Toms closes in on Michelob repeat

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- David Toms battled chilly conditions and some early bungles to finish with a 4-under-par 67 Saturday, good for a two-shot lead in his bid to repeat his victory in the Michelob Championship.

Playing in the second-to-last group, with greens softened by heavy morning rain but temperatures in the low 50s and gusting winds making it feel much colder, Toms proved the day's best survivor at Kingsmill.

"I hit the ball well and kept it in the fairway and hit some good iron shots," Toms said after hitting 14 of 14 fairways. "You have to hit the ball solid when it's windy to keep it on line and I was able to do that."

He was 2 under on the front nine, making three birdies and a bogey, then had three more birdies and another bogey on the closing nine. He finished with a 40-foot birdie putt and No. 18 to get to 12-under 201.

Esteban Toledo was alone in second after a 68 that included five birdies and two bogeys, with Jose Coceres in a four-way tie for third after a bogey-free 67. The group at 204 also included Kirk Triplett, who had a 69 Saturday, Neal Lancaster, who had a 70, and Chris Riley, 71.

Toledo was one of many players who repeatedly put his jacket on, then took it off, but said the conditions weren't as bad as they seemed. He was surprised there weren't more low scores; his tied for best of the day.

"The greens were soft, but you still have to hit it," he said.

Toledo won the Mexican Open in his homeland last season, but said "I always dream to win a tournament on the PGA Tour. I think if I really try tomorrow, it might not happen. I am just going to let it happen."

Coceres, who beat Billy Mayfair in a playoff this year at the Worldcom Classic in Hilton Head, S.C., said that victory will help him Sunday.

"I think I have a lot of confidence, but there's a lot of great players that are 5 under, 6 under. They have a chance as well."

But the best chance seems to belong to Toms, the PGA champion and two-time winner this year who came from behind to win here last year.

Several other contenders made moves on the lead throughout the day, but all fell back as the chill of the day -- or contention -- set in.

Chris Riley, one of three co-leaders entering the round, birdied his first two holes to get to 11 under, then bogeyed three of the next four. He wound up with an even-par 71 after three-putting the 18th green.

Jonathan Kaye, like Riley a co-leader seeking his first victory, got to 11 under after eight holes, but gave two shots back in the next four. And Len Mattiace, the third co-leader, struggled to a 3-over 74.

LPGA World Championship

VALLEJO, Calif. -- Dorothy Delasin birdied three of the final four holes to move one stroke ahead of Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak at the Samsung World Championship.

Delasin had a 5-under 67 for a 208 total. Webb, who started strong but had just one birdie in the final 11 holes, shot a 70. Pak, who tied Delasin for the first-round lead, fought off a stiff neck muscle for a bogey-free 67 at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club.

Emilee Klein tied the course record set Friday by Rachel Teske with a third-round 65, putting her three strokes behind Delasin.

Defending champion Juli Inkster, who has won three of the last four World Championships, holed a bunker shot on 18 to finish at 212.

Annika Sorenstam shot a 71 and was at even-par 216.

Turtle Bay Seniors

KAHUKU, Hawaii -- Hale Irwin shot a 4-under-par 68 to take a two-stroke lead over John Jacobs and Hubert Green after two rounds of the Turtle Bay Championship.

Irwin was at 7-under 137 after 36 holes as 35 mph gusts swept across the Turtle Bay Resort's Palmer Course. The oceanside layout was hit by a heavy downpour and strong winds Friday.

Irwin birdied the sixth and seventh holes and closed out his round by sandwiching birdies around his lone bogey between the 14th and 16th holes for his two-shot advantage.

-- From wire reports