Toms breaks away from Wachovia pack for third-round lead

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A chip-in for eagle and a brilliant fairway bunker shot enabled David Toms to pull away from the pack Saturday in the Wachovia Championship and take a big step toward his first victory in 20 months.

On a steamy, blustery afternoon at Quail Hollow, Toms matched the best score of the tournament with a 6-under 66 to build a five-stroke lead.

Tiger Woods is the only other player this year to lead by as many as five shots after 54 holes. He went on to win at Bay Hill by 11 strokes despite a nasty stomach virus.

Toms left everyone else feeling sick.

The former PGA champion was at 11-under 205 and had a big cushion over Kirk Triplett (67), Robert Gamez (71) and J.P. Hayes (72).

"When I was on the range, I was thinking about shooting 2 or 3 under, just like the first two days," Toms said. "I knew if I wasn't in the lead, that would at least have a chance."

With everyone around him stuck in neutral, Toms wound up firmly in charge.

Nick Price, who led by one going into Saturday, tried to recover from a sluggish start but consecutive birdies late in the round still left him at 74.

Price was in a large group at 5-under 211 that included Charles Howell III, who was only two behind Toms with three holes to play until back-to-back bogeys.

Asahi Ryokuken International

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- Rosie Jones birdied three of the last eight holes to take a two-shot lead into the final round.

Jones, who has led at the end of each round, shot a 3-under 69 and was among a handful of golfers to shoot under 70 on a day when the heat, swirling wind and tough pin placements sent scores soaring at the Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club.

Jones was at 13-under 203, followed by Laura Diaz (69) at 11 under. Wendy Ward (71) was three strokes behind the leader, and Pat Hurst (71) was four back.

The top four spots were held by Americans, who are hoping to end a streak of 17 straight LPGA Tour victories by foreign-born players. Meg Mallon was the last U.S. player to win on tour, at the Canadian Women's Open in August.

Nichirei Cup

TOKYO -- Annika Sorenstam shot a 1-under 71 in windy conditions to open a five-stroke lead in her last tournament before the PGA Tour's Colonial.

The Swedish star had four birdies and three bogeys on the Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club course to take a 9-under 207 total into the final round. Japan's Kaori Suzuki was second after a 69.

Kinko's Classic

AUSTIN, Texas -- Tom Kite moved into position for his first professional victory in his home state, shooting a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the Kinko's Classic.

Kite, a longtime Austin resident and former University of Texas star, had a 10-under 134 total at The Hills, a course he said he hasn't played much in the past 10 years.

Hale Irwin (66) and Tom Watson (69) were a stroke back.

-- From wire reports