Pampling takes charge at Bay Hill Invitational

A couple of yards were all the difference between a tight leaderboard at the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Fla., and Rod Pampling taking charge with a four-shot lead Saturday.

From the first cut of rough on the left side of the fairway, Pampling took on the flag with a 4-iron and cleared the water by about two paces to set up a 3-foot birdie putt and complete a solid round of 5-under 67, leaving him in great position to capture his second PGA Tour title.

A ball in the water could have led to double bogey.

Instead, the 36-year-old Australian wound up at 14-under 202, giving him a large cushion in the final round against Lucas Glover (72), Greg Owen (67) and Darren Clarke, who tied three tournament records on his way to a 63.

Pampling took the lead with a birdie on the par-5 sixth and spent the rest of the warm, sunny afternoon at Bay Hill Club trying to keep his position.

Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett shot a round of 68 for a total of 211.

Tiger Woods, a four-time winner at Bay Hill, sputtered around to another 71 and was at 4-under 212, 10 shots behind.

LPGA

South Korea’s Sarah Lee shot a 2-under 70 to take a one-stroke lead over Aree Song in the 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 eagled the 18th for a 70.

Annika Sorenstam, the two-time defending champion, shot a 3-over 75 to fall out of contention.

Champions Tour

Tom Purtzer shot a 4-under 67 for a share of the second-round lead with Bob Eastwood and Graham Marsh in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, Calif.

Marsh had a 69 and Eastwood shot a 70 to match Purtzer, the 2004 winner, at 7-under 135 on the Newport Beach CC course.