GOLF ROUNDUP : Clearwater Takes Lead With a 67

Keith Clearwater birdied two of the last three holes for a 67 Friday and took a one-shot lead after three rounds of the five-day Las Vegas Invitational.

“It’s still a long way from anywhere,” Clearwater said after completing one round on each of three desert courses in 199, 17 under par.

His caution is well-founded. Clearwater frequently has been an early round leader this season but hasn’t won since 1987, his rookie year.

He moved into the top spot with a nine-iron to six feet for a last-hole birdie at the Desert Inn, the most difficult of the three courses used for the first three days of the 90-hole tournament.

That put him one shot ahead of Davis Love III, who had to overcame a four-putt bogey to shoot 67 at the TPC at Summerlin--the host course and site of the final two rounds today and Sunday.

Love was second at 200 despite what he called “a lack of focus, a lack of intensity.”

Craig Stadler and Phil Mickelson were next at 202 in the $1.4-million tournament that offers $252,000 to the winner.

Stadler had an eagle-three in his round of 69 and Mickelson shot 68, both at the Desert Inn.

The group at 203 included David Peoples, Ken Green and Canadian Richard Zokol. Peoples had a 64 and Zokol 68, both at the TPC, while Green’s 68 came at the Desert Inn.

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Three of the four seeded players lost as birdies and eagles abounded in the quarterfinals of the World Match Play Championships at Virginia Water, England, with Corey Pavin leading the way.

Pavin’s seven-under 65 in the morning session was the best 18-hole round of the tournament, but he needed a few more birdies in the afternoon to hang on for a 2 and 1 victory over Nick Price of Zimbabwe.

Colin Montgomerie had two eagles on the way to a 6 and 4 upset of Bernhard Langer, and David Frost made a late charge to defeat Ian Woosnam 2 and 1.

Only Nick Faldo was able to win. The defending champion broke open a tie match with a birdie-eagle finish to the morning round and went on to beat Steve Elkington 4 and 3.

Faldo will play Frost in today’s semifinals, while Pavin faces Montgomerie.