GOLF ROUNDUP : NORMAN DISQUALIFIED FOR IMPROPER BALL.

Byline: Associated Press 

The Greater Hartford Open lost the biggest name in its field and gained a new leader.

After defending champion Greg Norman was disqualified over a technical ball violation, D.A. Weibring shot an even-par 70 Saturday to take sole possession of the lead heading into the final round in Cromwell, Conn.

Weibring, who took the past three weeks off to regain some strength sapped by the Bell's Palsy he was diagnosed with earlier this year, finished 54 holes at 7-under 203, one stroke better than second-round leader Kevin Sutherland, who had a 72.

Norman was disqualified late Friday for using an improperly labeled ball in the first two rounds. He was five strokes out of the lead at the halfway mark and his early exit was the buzz all day.

``You live by the rules of the game,'' said Norman, who was in good spirits Saturday morning despite the fact the mix-up cost him a serious chance to become the tournament's first repeat champion.

Norman won the GHO last year with a course record 13-under 267 total.

The action, which was announced Saturday, was prompted by Norman's admission to golf officials that there might be a problem with the ball he was testing for Maxfli.

Golf officials said the ball was physically identical to one approved by the USGA, but was mislabeled with a stamp number that designated it as one that is not on the USGA's list of conforming balls.

Norman said it was only the second time in his career he has been disqualified. The first time was in an Australian tournament in 1991, he said. The difference this time was that it was inadvertent, he said.

``The first time I did it it was my fault because I had a rules infraction. But this time it was beyond my control and just by a shear bad stamping on a golf ball,'' he said.

Weibring leapfrogged Sutherland, a tour rookie, to take the lead.

``It feels great to be in the lead but I've got more work to do,'' Weibring said, admitting he felt a little ``rubber-legged'' on the first tee.

Weibring is still trying to adjust to his sickness, a muscular condition marked by a suddenly recurring paralysis on one side of the face. It forced him to take three months off earlier this year.

Robert Gamez was at 205 after a 66 and another stroke behind were Mike Brisky, Tom Kite and Mark Calcavecchia.

Benz 12-under after 36 holes: Amy Benz threatened to run away with her first title in nearly 13 years on tour by shooting a 5-under-par 66 to take a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Somers Point, N.J.

Benz's tournament-record, 12-under-par 130 was the LPGA's lowest 36-hole score this year and just three shots off the standard of 15-under set by Judy Dickinson in 1985.

Only Dottie Pepper, who won last week's Rochester International, seemingly had a chance to beat Benz, who is winless in 319 events since joining the tour in late 1983.

Pepper, who has won 11 career titles, also shot a 66 and was at 9-under 133, tying Donna Andrews' old 36-hole tournament record.

Aoki leads seniors by 1: Isao Aoki shot a 2-under-par 69 to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Mike Hill and Bob E. Smith after two rounds of the Kroger Senior Classic in Mason, Ohio.

Aoki was at 10-under 132 with one round to play in the $900,000 tournament. He started the day one shot behind J.C. Snead, drew even with a birdie on No. 10 and took the lead for good with a birdie on 13.

Snead, who had matched Jack Nicklaus' course record with a 62 in the opening round, had three bogeys on the back nine in a 73 that left him three strokes off the lead.

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Photo

Photo: Greg Norman explains how using an experimental ballcost him a disqualification.

Associated Press