European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                O Meara primed to win at Pebble monday february 3, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 21 by Jaime Diaz the new York times Pebble Beach Calif. A shooting another Strong round on the course that has become his personal playground Mark o Meara put himself in prime position on saturday to become the first tour time Winner of the at amp to Pebble Beach National pro am. Of Meara fired a four under Par 68 at Pebble Beach Golf links that gave him a 54-Hole total of 11-under-Par 205. It was two shots better than Jeff Slu Man who had a 70 at poppy Hills and three better than Howard Twitty who shot a 70 at poppy Hills Tom Lehmann who had a 67 at Pebble Beach first round Leader Mark Wiebe who had a 70 at poppy Hills and defending Champion Paul Azinger and Raymond Floyd who had scintillating 64s at Pebble Beach. As it always is sundays final round was also to be played at Pebble Beach which is where of Meara would most like to be. The 35-year-old, 12-year Veteran of the pea tour was leading or tied for the Lead when he won this tournament in 1985,1989 and 1990 to join Jack Nicklaus As the Only three time Winner of this tournament since 1947, when it was first played on the Monterey Peninsula. Of Meara also won the 1979 California state Amateur at Pebble Beach. A i would think its a tremendous psychological Edge for Mark a said the 49-year-old Floyd whose 21 career victories do not include one at this tournament. A the must have a wonderful feel for the greens out Here. If i were him i  wait to get out there tomorrow. There Are horses for  a this tournament is like an annuity for Mark a added Sluman who was to be paired with of Meara on sunday. A i done to think anybody in the world would want to National pro am spot Mark of Meara two shots and have to play Pebble  the Low key of Meara who with a round of 67 would break the tournament record of 14-under-Par 273 set by Tom Watson in 1977, tried to play Down the Roll of favorite. A the Confidence Factor of doing Well Here in the past has played a big part a he said. A but i know its going to take a Good round to win tomorrow. I Hope in be got it in  a besides being on his favorite course of Meara is on one of the Best streaks of his career. In 16 rounds this year of Meara is 51 under Par. Fifteen of those rounds have been under Par. The Way of Meara is playing it appears that Only a Low round by one of the contenders will beat him. With weather conditions expected to remain temperate on sunday birdies should be accessible. For example Floyd who will join the senior tour after his 50th birthday on sept. 4, was nearly flawless in his round. He hit 16 greens in regulation including two of the Par-5�?Ts in two shots. Floyd had 28 putts including misses on Birdie putts inside 10 feet on four holes. Azinger opened his round with six birdies on the first nine holes to shoot 30. But the defending Champion said that he lost his momentum when play slowed Down on the Back Side. A i was just about flawless but once we hit that backup on the 10th Hole it was like starting Over he said. Leading the pro am portion by a full nine shots Are Greg Norman and the australian Media tycoon Kerry Packer who Are 35 under Par. In second place Are Payne Stewart and Orel Hershiser and Fred Funk and Lawrence Taylor. Mark of Meara Waves is Putter to gallery on 18th Hole after taking third round Lead. Pens 4-goal Start rips blues 1 by the associated press Pittsburgh a Kevin Stevens had a pal and two assists in a four goal 26-shot first period that carried Pittsburgh to a 4-1 Victory Over the St. Louis blues ending the penguins Overall three game losing Streak and their four game slide at Home. Stevens opened the scoring at 1 50, then set up Mark Recchio a goal at 4 57. Joe Mullen scored on a breakaway and Larry Mur lied to tie Boston. Audette took a ass from Grant led Ong. Lippl Cut in and beat goalie Andy Moog from a a Ard slipped a body Check along the left boards by Bostons Gord Murphy then Phy made it 4-0 on the penguins 18th shot before starting goaltender Curtis Joseph was lifted for Guy Hebert. The penguins who were riddled for eight goals in thursday nights loss to the new York islanders held Brett Hull the no la a leading goal scorer without a Point. In other games saturday islanders 5, flyers 5 Uniondale . Derek Kines play goal with 1 06 left in regulation gave new York a tie with Phila Power with 1 06 left in Regul de Ohphia on a Denis Potvin  the islanders led 4-2 entering the final period then gave up goals by Mark Pederson Rod Brind amour and Claude Boivin before King tied it with a Power play deflection of a pass by Tom Kurvers. Cup Lima 5, Flatt 2 Landover my. Randy Burridge had two Power play goals As Washington handed Calgary its fourth straight kiss. Burridge a first goal which bounced into the net Oil his nose gave Washington a 3-0 Lead Early in the second period. His other goal scored in a More conventional manner made it 5-2 with 14 37 left. Sabom 2, Bruins 2 Boston a Donald Audette scored his 25th goal tops among nil rookies Early in the third period As Buffalo ral the lower left Circle for the tying goal at 4 30 of the final period. The tie enabled Buffalo to extend its unbeaten Streak to six games 4-0-2. Rangers 2, North stars 1 Bloomington Minn. John Vanbiesbrouc made 41 saves 20 in the third period and set up Darrin tur Cotter a game winning goal As new York won its fourth straight Road game. The Victory extended the rangers Road unbeaten string to five their longest in six years and their Overall unbeaten Streak to 6-0-1. Canadians 4, red wings 3 Montreal a Kirk Muller scored 2 14 into overtime to give Montreal Ca Nadaene a Victory Over Detroit in a meeting Between struggling division leaders. Muller swept Shayne Corsons backhand pm past Tim Cheval Dae who kept the de wings in the game with 19 thira period saves. Denis Savard Guy Carbonneau and Stephan Lebeau also scored for Montreal. Maple Leafs 6, devils 4 Toronto a Doug Gilmour and Glenn Anderson continued to spark Toronto a revival combining for eight Points As the Maple Leafs Hung on to defeat new Jersey for their fourth straight Victory. Toronto built a 4-0 Lead on Andersons two goals along with one each by Mike Kru Shelyski and Mike Bullard before the devils got three goals two by Claude Lemieux late in the second period. Gilmour deflected a Point shot past Craig Billington for his 16th goal at 4 17 of the third period for the Winner. Kevin Todd made it 5-4 at 9 38 but Wendel Clark clinched the Victory with an empty net goal with 62 seconds left. Canucks 4, whalers 4 Vancouver British Columbia the struggling whalers got a Confidence boost As third period goals by Yvon car Riveau and Zarley Salapski gave them a tie with Vancouver. Salapski tied the score with a blast from the Point at 14 51 of the third period after Rookie James Black won a face off in the Vancouver zone. Geoff Sanderson and Mark Hunter also scored for the whalers who Are 0-7-4 in their last 11 games. The canucks appeared to be in control when Greg Adams scored a Power play goal in the second period and Ryan Walter added a shorthanded goal for a 4-2 Lead. Petr Nedved and Trevor Linden scored in the first period for the canucks. Kings 2, Blackhawk 0 Inglewood Calif. Kelly Hrudney stopped 25 shots for his first shutout of the season As los Angeles beat Chicago. Jari Kerri gave Hrudney the Only goal he needed in the tight checking game by batting the puck pasted Belfour on a Power play with 5 54 left in the second period. Wayne Gretzky got his 20th goal of the season into an empty net with 3 seconds left. The shutout was the 13th of crud Eye a 10-year nil career and Only the second time Chicago has been blanked this season. Potvin s 5 retired by islanders Uniondale . A with the fans chanting a Denny Denny and cheering throughout the new York islanders retired Denis Potvine a number on saturday. The Hall of Fame defens Eman was greeted by an emotional crowd at the Nassau coliseum prior to the islanders game with the Philadelphia flyers. As his no. 5 was raised to the rafters a the first number retired by the islanders a Potvin stood teary eyed on the ice with his wife Valeri and two of his three children. Annabelle the Middle child was too self conscious to join her famous father in the pre game ceremonies and Potvin quipped to the audience a never Force a Potvin to do something they done to want to  Potvin who ended his career in 1988 As the highest scoring defens Eman in nil history was greeted by a huge standing ovation when he first walked out. After receiving Diamond studded cuff links shaped As a 5 from islander general manager Bill Torrey and a number sculpture from team Captain Pat Flatley Potvin personally started the mechanism that raised his number to the rafters alongside the four islander Stanley cup flags