GOLF ROUNDUP : Cook Loses Lead, Then Finds It

Only a late rally kept John Cook from being overwhelmed by what he called “a stampede” Saturday during the fourth round of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Cook, who watched his once-commanding five-shot lead disappear, regained his composure and his lead with birdies on three of the last four holes at the new TPC at Summerlin.

That was the positive side of his performance, a round of two-under-par 70 that left him with a three-shot lead entering today’s final round of the five-day tournament.

The negative side, Cook said, was that “I let a lot of people back into the golf tournament. Anybody within five shots has a chance.”

Cook, winner of two titles and in contention for the money-winning title this year, holds the lead with a 72-hole total of 266, 22 under.

John Adams is next at 269 after a 68. Robert Gamez, Nolan Henke and Keith Clearwater are next at 270.

Gamez bounced back from an early double bogey with birdies on five of his last six holes for a 68. Clearwater had the same total despite some putting problems.

And Henke, 11 shots behind after three rounds, moved up with a 63.

“I didn’t even think about catching those guys. I didn’t think there was a chance,” Henke said. “I just came out here to have some fun. But now, I guess tomorrow I’ll have to try to play a little golf, too.”

Davis Love III (64), Paul Azinger (68), Bob Estes (68) and Peter Persons (70) were at 271.

Cook, a runner-up in both the British Open and the PGA earlier this season, said he had a lapse during some extremely slow play over the front side.

“I couldn’t get anything going. It was hit and wait,” he said. “I felt trapped. I knew I was about to be run over, but I couldn’t do anything about it.

“I didn’t have any rhythm. I didn’t feel comfortable. I wasn’t thinking very well,” he said.

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Upset winner Jeff Sluman will meet persistent Nick Faldo today in the final of the World Match Play championship at Virginia Water, England.

Sluman upset Ian Woosnam, 3 and 2, and Faldo came from behind to edge Nick Price, 2 and 1, in the semifinals of the $850,000 event.

Runner-up to Seve Ballesteros last year, Price eagled the fourth hole and won the sixth to go 2-up against Faldo, the British Open champion.

But Faldo rallied on the second 18, making some key birdies.

“Nick was almost flawless this afternoon,” Price said. “When he is on his game he does not make any mistakes. I knew I was going to have to keep making birdies, but I didn’t.”

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Bob Charles shot a record-tying, seven-under-par 65 to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Raley’s Senior Gold Rush at Sacramento.

The left-handed Charles is at eight-under 136 with 18 holes to play, two shots ahead of Kermit Zarley, who shot a 68 on the Rancho Murieta Country Club course.

First-round leader Chi Chi Rodriguez shot a one-under 71 and is tied at 139 with Bruce Crampton, who shot a 68. Four players are tied at 140, including Rodriguez’s younger brother, Jesus.