GOLF ROUNDUP : Els Hopes to Match Open Win

Four months ago, Ernie Els beat Colin Montgomerie in an 18-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open. Today, the two will meet again, this time over 36 holes, to determine the winner of the World Match Play Championship.

Els, repeatedly bailing himself out of trouble in the morning round, recovered to defeat a limping Jose Maria Olazabal, 2 and 1, while Montgomerie finished with two birdies to beat Vijay Singh, 1 up, in Saturday’s semifinals at Virginia Water, England.

Montgomerie and Singh were tied after 18 holes, but Montgomerie chipped in at the 23rd to go 2 up in the afternoon.

*

Bob Estes took another step toward his first PGA Tour victory as he put together the lowest 54-hole score of the year and stretched his lead to four strokes in the $1-million Texas Open.

Estes shot a four-under-par 68 at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio for a 54-hole total of 18-under-par 195. That’s two shots better than the previous three-round low this year, set by Lennie Clements in the Bob Hope Classic.

Gil Morgan shared second with Don Pooley at 199, and Brian Kamm was next at 68-200.

*

Dave Eichelberger shot a three-under-par 69 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Senior Gold Rush tournament at Rancho Murieta. His two-day total is seven-under 137.

Chi Chi Rodriguez and Bob Murphy were tied at 140, with Jim Albus and Al Geiberger another shot back and Simon Hobday and Tom Wargo two behind.

*

Elaine Crosby shot a three-under 69 and opened a three-stroke lead over an elite field in the World Championship of Women’s Golf at Naples, Fla.

Crosby had four birdies and one bogey on her third trip over the Naples National Golf Club. Her 11-under 205 gave her a three-shot edge over Laura Davies and a four-shot margin over Beth Daniel and Dottie Mochrie.