Laird avoids bogeys in attempt to repeat in Vegas

— Defending champion Martin Laird shot a bogey-free 8-under-par 63 - eagling the short par-4 15th and closing with three pars - to take a one-stroke lead over Jonathan Byrd on Saturday in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open.

Laird made an 8-foot putt on the 310-yard 15th after driving the green. The Scot had a 19-under 194 total at TPC Summerlin in the fourth of five Fall Series events. He shot a 62 Friday after opening with a 69.

Byrd shot a 66. Australia’s Cameron Percy had a careerbest 62, making eight birdies, an eagle and a bogey, to join Webb Simpson (64) at 17 under.

LPGA

Hjorth, Lee share lead

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Sweden’s Maria Hjorth shot her second consecutive 3-under-par 68 in steamy conditions Saturday for a share of the second-round lead with South Korea’s Jee Young Lee in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

Lee followed her opening 66 with a 70 to match Hjorth at 6 under on the short Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course in the event that was delayed again because of lightning, this time for 2 hours, 28 minutes.

“It’s always hard when it’s such a long delay, especially when the temperature is so warm outside and you kind of sit inside and you get cool,” Hjorth said. “It’s easy to get a little bit stiff and tired when you’re sitting in there. So you really have to make sure that when you start again to reallybe clear and be focused.”

South Korea’s Song-Hee Kim (68) was a stroke back, and Hall of Famer Juli Inskter (67), trying to become the oldest winner in LPGA Tour history at 50, was 4 under along with Natalie Gulbis (68) and Mika Miyazato (72).

Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) is tied for 16th after a 1-under 71 with two birdies and one bogey. She is 1 under for the tournament. Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) is 3 over for the tournament. On Saturday, she had three birdies, a bogey and a triple bogey for a 1-over 72.

“I love this golf course,” said Gulbis, seeking her second LPGA Tour victory. “I’m an aggressive putter, so these greens suit my game well. ... The greens have a lot of grain on them, and they’re not necessarily slow, but there is a lot of grain. The grain doesn’t affect it as much. If you don’t hit them as hard, the grain can take it off line pretty quickly.”

Michelle Wie was six strokes behind at even par after rounds of 68 and 74.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Pavin maintains lead

THE WOODLANDS, Texas- U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin shot a 4-under-par 68 Saturday to maintain a onestroke lead in the Champions Tour’s Administaff Small Business Classic.

Pavin had a 10-under 134 total on The Woodlands Country Club course.

Mark Wiebe (68) was second, and former University of Houston star Fred Couples (65) was 8 under. Couples had eight birdies and one bogey in his tournament-best round.

Pavin had a three-strokelead over Wiebe with two holes left, but Wiebe cut it to one on No. 17 when he made a birdie and Pavin missed a short putt for his only bogey of the day.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Course record tied

CASTELLON, Spain - John Parry set a course record at the Castello Masters with a 9-under-par 63, only to have Gary Boyd equal it soon after and take a two-stroke lead after the third round.

Boyd was at 14-under 199 Saturday in search of his firstEuropean Tour victory. Matteo Manassero (67) of Italy and Christian Nilsson (66) of Sweden were two shots back going into the final round at Club de Campo Del Mediterraneo.

Boyd, however, also will be looking over his shoulder at Parry.

Parry was among six players tied for seventh at 9 under, but Boyd feels his countryman and roommate on the European Tour could be a threat.

John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) is 14 strokes behind the leader after his 1-over 72 on Saturday. Daly’s round included five birdies, three bogeys and a triple bogey. He stands at 5-under for the tournament. Brenden Pappas (Razorbacks) also had a 72 on Saturday and is 15 shots behind the leader. Pappas’ round included an eagle, two birdies and five bogeys.

NATIONWIDE TOUR

Mills ahead by two

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Jon Mills fired his second 4-under-par 66 in a row and holds a two-stroke advantage in the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open.

Mills is at 10 under (200) for the tournament, two strokes in front of Rob Oppenheim, Shane Bertsch, Kevin Chappell and Craig Barlow.

Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) is eight strokes back after a 1-over 71 Saturday. His round included four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

Scott Gardiner (Farmington) is at 212 for the tournament. His 2-over 72 Saturday included five bogeys and three birdies.

Sports, Pages 42 on 10/24/2010

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