Saturday, February 26, 2005
CHAMPIONS TOUR
LUTZ, Fla. -- Morris Hatalsky finished an opening-round 68 and followed with a 67 Saturday afternoon for a 7-under-par 135 and a two-stroke lead in the rain-shortened Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. Hatalsky was one of just 22 players to complete the second round of the event, which was cut to 36 holes. The remainder of the tournament is scheduled to be played today, although heavy rain is forecast and the conclusion could be pushed back to Monday. Hale Irwin moved into contention with three straight birdies and an eagle on his way to 5 under in the first round. The winner of last month's Turtle Bay Championship in Hawaii only got in three holes of the second round and was 6 under when play was suspended. Wayne Levi also completed the second round, posting a 68 to finish at 137, along with Don Pooley. D.A. Weibring and Tom Kite finished at 138.
NEW ZEALAND PGA
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand -- Australia's Peter O'Malley closed with a three putt at No. 18 for a 1-under 71 and slipped into a three-way tie for the lead heading into the final round of the New Zealand PGA. O'Malley led by three strokes at 14 under in the third round, but slipped to 11-under 205 and was tied with Americans Jeff Gove (70) and Johnson Wagner (68). The tournament, formerly the Clearwater Classic, is co-sanctioned by the Australasian PGA and the U.S. PGA's Nationwide Tour.
ANZ LADIES MASTERS
GOLD COAST, Australia -- Teenager Ai Miyazato shot a 2-under 70 to take a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the ANZ Ladies Masters. The 19-year-old Miyazato, who had five wins on the Japanese tour last year after turning pro, is trying to win for the first time away from Japan. She opened the joint Australian and Ladies European Tour event with a course record-tying 63 on Thursday and held the lead through the next two rounds. She has a 15-under total of 201 on the par-72 Royal Pines resort course. Sweden's Cecilia Ekelundh is second at 12-under after a 67. Four-time ANZ Ladies Masters champion Karrie Webb also had a 67 and was third, four strokes behind Miyazato. American 18-year-old amateur Tiffany Joh, who tied the course record of 63 -- first established by Webb in 1999 -- shot a 1-over 73 Saturday and is tied for 10th, eight strokes back.
MYANMAR OPEN
YANGON, Myanmar -- Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand shot a 3-under-par 69 to take a two-shot lead after three rounds of the Myanmar Open. Thongchai, the Asian Tour leader who won last weekend in Malaysia, birdied two of his last three holes to put him at 10-under 206. Thongchai also captured the 2002 Myanmar Open.
Associated Press