Golfer Lopez Facing Surgery

Thursday, April 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. (AP) â€” Nancy Lopez needs gall bladder surgery, but the Hall of Famer said it can wait until after the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, where she is the tournament host.

``I am feeling fine, and I played in the pro-am yesterday without any pain,'' Lopez said Thursday. ``I have adjusted my diet to assist in controlling the stomach pain, and things are going well.''

The 43-year-old golfer will schedule the surgery later. It requires little recovery time, and she does not expect it to interrupt her tournament schedule. A year ago, Lopez was forced to withdraw from the LPGA Championship because of knee surgery.

``I look forward to having this taken care of and then playing out my schedule for the season,'' she said.

Lopez, a winner of 48 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, last won three years ago in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship. She was selected the official host this year.

The 54-hole tournament begins Friday at Eagles Landing Country Club.