Quite a ‘Grind’ for Robbins, King

RANCHO MIRAGE â€”  See if you can figure this out: Kelly Robbins doesn’t like the way she is swinging the golf club and Betsy King has had one top-10 finish since September.

And they start today’s last round of the Nabisco Dinah Shore tied for the lead.

You know, if things get any worse, something really bad might happen to one of them, like having to hold up that heavy old silver trophy, then stand in line at the bank to cash the winner’s check for $135,000.

At this point, it’s a race to the tellers with Robbins and King trying to get there first. King, already a Hall of Famer, shot her second consecutive 67 Saturday at Mission Hills Country Club to equal the 11-under 205 total of Robbins, who seems intent on a Hall of Fame career.

Robbins toured Mission Hills with a 68, a clear, concise and wildly unpredictable round that featured five birdies, three bogeys and an eagle.

“I’m pleased, no, I’m ecstatic to be hanging in,� Robbins said.

She may redefine hanging in, especially after her eagle on the 506-yard par-five 11th, where Robbins reached the green in two from 217 yards and then wiggled in a 12-foot putt.

It’s never easy, though, she said.

“It seems like every day I walk off the course with a headache,� she said. “It’s always a grind.�

Chances are, the grinding will include quite a few. Four others are within five shots of the lead and close enough to feel their chances aren’t that bad, to say the least.

“There’s a lot of people licking their chops right know, knowing the position they’re in,� Robbins said.

Maybe so. Amy Fruhwirth was tied for fifth here a year ago, but her third-round 68 put her in position to win her first tournament. The 28-year-old from Cypress is at nine-under 207 and two shots off the lead.

She said she stayed calm despite playing in the same group with King and Robbins.

“I’m so proud of myself that I kept my composure,� Fruhwirth said. “I couldn’t ask anything more of myself, except maybe winning.�

Kris Tschetter is three shots back at 208 after the best round of the day, a 66. She also opened with a 66, but unfortunately, there was a 76 thrown in the middle to spoil things.

The only thing that has been up and down more than Tschetter so far has been that dirigible they use for the overhead television shots.

At least Tschetter knew how to explain it.

“Golf is a crazy game,� she said.

Annika Sorenstam and Dottie Pepper are tied at six-under 210, but they are only five shots behind the leaders.

King has been in this position many times and has come through enough to win 30 tournaments in a distinguished career that began in 1977.

Even though last year was her worst since 1982, King still made the Solheim Cup team that won in Wales. Her partner was Robbins. There may be no one more happy to see King playing better.

“I know she struggled for awhile,� Robbins said. “I haven’t seen her hit the ball so well. It’s good to see her back, good for the game and good for her.�

King is working on a streak of 45 holes without a bogey, but she nearly stumbled on the 18th. Aiming right, she pulled her drive left, nearly into the water.

King won here in 1987 and 1990 for two of her five major titles. But she hasn’t won since her 30th career victory in 1995 put her into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

“Last year I just wasn’t swinging at it well,� King said. “I’ve worked hard and feel like I’ve made some progress. But I obviously wasn’t hitting the ball well.�

Now that she has another chance to win, King isn’t taking it for granted.

“When you’re up there, you win some and you lose some, but the fun of it is to have a chance in the last round.�

She’s probably not the only one who feels that way.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Leaders

At Mission Hills CC--Par 72 (54-Hole Scores)

Betsy King: 71-67-67--205 -11

Kelly Robbins: 70-67-68--205 -11

Amy Fruhwirth: 69-70-68--207 -9

Kris Tschetter: 66-76-66--208 -7

Annika Sorenstam: 70-72-68--210 -6

Dottie Pepper: 69-70-71--210 -6

* COMPLETE SCORES, C14