Webb Ties Klein For Lpga Lead

Rookie Karrie Webb shot a 4-under-par 68 to tie Emilee Klein for the lead Saturday in the season-ending $700,000 LPGA Tour Championship.

Webb and Klein, a second-year pro, were tied at 9-under 207 after three rounds over the 6,324-yard Desert Inn course in Las Vegas.

Laura Davies, the tour’s leading money winner, was tied for third at 210 in a group that includes LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, Brandie Burton, Juli Inkster and Michelle McGann.

Davies’ round of 71 included three bogeys, two birdies and one eagle.

Davies and Webb are competing to become the first LPGA player to surpass $1 million in single-season earnings.

Davies has $897,302 this season to $852,000 for Webb. Today’s winner receives $150,000.

“It looks like I’m going to have to win the tournament to win the money title,” said Davies, who has five victories this year. “I’ve still got my chance to win.”

Greg Norman, seeking his fifth Australian Open title and second in a row, will take a four-shot lead into today’s final round at Sydney.

Norman shot a 1-under-par 71 in the third round of the $800,000 event over The Australian Golf Club course. He coped well with windy conditions as only seven players had sub-par rounds.

Norman had four birdies and three bogeys to go four shots ahead of Sweden’s Klas Eriksson, who fired a 4-over 76. Norman has a 54-hole total of 5-under 211.

Tiger Woods shot his best round of the tournament, a 1-under 71 for 222.

Ernie Els and Wayne Westner combined for a 14-under-par performance, giving South Africa a whopping 13-stroke lead after three rounds of the World Cup of Golf at Capetown, South Africa.

The two big hitters have 205 totals and an aggregate total of 410, 22-under for the tournament.

Scotland was in second place at 423, with the United States third at 426.

Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett carded a 6-under-par 66 for a six-stroke lead after three rounds of the Pebble Beach (Calif.) Invitational Pro-Am.

Triplett, winless in seven years on the PGA Tour, will remain so even if his lead holds up in the final round. The $250,000 tournament is not an official PGA event.

Mike Springer had a 66 in the third round, and was at 207.