Golf: Stricker takes lead at Barclays

Steve Stricker kept pouring in birdies at The Barclays until he had the lead to himself, and it wasn’t long before an electronic scoreboard projected Stricker atop the PGA Tour Playoffs.

Right now, Stricker isn’t the least bit worried about the FedEx Cup or its $10 million prize.

All he wants is a trophy.

In a season of blown opportunities, Stricker gave himself the best chance yet Saturday with a 6-under 65 that allowed him to zoom past K.J. Choi and take a one-shot lead into the final round at soft, vulnerable Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y.

Stricker has either been tied or within one shot of the lead in the last round of four tournaments this year – two of them majors – but still is searching for his first victory since 2001.

“One of these times, it’s going to come out in my favor,” said Stricker, whose 14-under 199 tied the 54-hole tournament record.

This time, at least he has the lead.

It was the first time Stricker has had at least a share of the 54-hole lead in nine years, and not since the 1996 Western Open has he had the outright lead going into the last round. That won’t make winning any easier.

Choi lost control of his fade shot off the tee along the back nine, but a birdie-birdie finish enabled him to salvage a 70, leaving him only one shot behind. Hunter Mahan tied a tournament scoring record for the second time in five weeks, this one a 9-under 62 that took him from the middle of the pack to only two shots behind.

Champions Tour

The scoreboards around the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge continued to list Ray Stewart’s full name, an appreciative gesture for spectators who know nothing about the Boeing Classic leader.

The names of those set to chase Stewart in the final round are much more familiar.

Stewart, who only made this week’s tournament by surviving a 10-man playoff in a Monday qualifier, shot a 4-under 68 and will take a surprising four-shot lead into today’s final round in Snoqualmie, Wash.

LPGA Tour

Lorena Ochoa leads by a stroke going into the final round of the Safeway Classic in Portland after a pair of late bogeys narrowed her advantage over Sophie Gustafson.

Ochoa, who has won two straight tournaments, had eight birdies earlier in her round that helped her finish with a 66, giving her an 11-under 133 after two rounds at Columbia Edgewater.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., is at 144. Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum missed the cut by a stroke after finishing at 149.

U.S. Amateur

Colt Knost is one step from completing a rare amateur golf double after beating Jhonattan Vegas 4 and 3 to advance to the finals of the U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club in Daly City, Calif.

Knost, who won the U.S. Public Links title in June, will face Michael Thompson of the University of Alabama in today’s 36-hole final round. Thompson beat Casey Clendenon 3 and 2 on the rolling course just south of San Francisco.

Knost, a 22-year-old Southern Methodist graduate, could become just the second player to win both amateur championships in the same year. Ryan Moore, now a top-60 player on the PGA Tour, won the Amateur and the Publinx in 2004.