Pampling Is the Clear Leader

Two yards made a big difference to Rod Pampling at the Bay Hill Classic on Saturday

Pampling just cleared the water on his second shot on the 18th hole, setting up a short birdie putt that gave him a five-under-par 67 and a four-shot lead at Orlando, Fla.

Pampling wound up at 14-under 202, ahead of Lucas Glover (72), Greg Owen (67) and Darren Clarke, who tied three tournament records on his way to a 63.

“It was a perfect number,” said Pampling, who had 192 yards to the pin. “It was further right in the air than I wanted, but I wasn’t worried at all.”

Pampling, 36, from Australia, took the lead with a birdie on the par-five sixth and spent the rest of the day at Bay Hill Club trying to keep his position.

Clarke, toward the bottom of the pack when he began the third round, tied tournament records for six straight birdies, a 30 on the back nine and his nine-under 63, which matched the best score at Bay Hill since it converted to a par 72 in 1989. Where he goes from there is of little concern.

His wife, Heather, was first diagnosed with breast cancer, and it has spread throughout her body. She was thought to be near death last May, but continues to fight.

“She’s having a pretty tough battle at the minute,” Clarke said. “She had a couple of weeks of very intensive treatment two weeks ago for another situation, so she’s had a very tough time. But she’s battling hard.”

Glover was the 36-hole leader and struggled to stay in the hunt. He lost his swing but was pleased with the way he kept saving par.

“My short game kept me in it,” Glover said.

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South Korea’s Sarah Lee shot a two-under 70 to take a one-stroke lead over Aree Song into the final round of the LPGA’s Safeway International at Superstition Mountain, Ariz.

Lee, also a stroke ahead of Song after two rounds, had a 14-under 202 total on Superstition Mountain’s Prospector Course. Song also shot a 70

Juli Inkster, a Hall of Famer whose last tour victory came in 2003, was four strokes back after a 70. Inkster was tied for third with Michele Redman, who made a big move with a 66.

Annika Sorenstam shot a 75 to fall out of contention.