GOLF ROUNDUP : Ogle, Gallagher Catch Mickelson

An uncharacteristic case of the jitters almost cost Phil Mickelson a share of the lead in the Northern Telecom Open at Tucson.

“I made too many stupid mistakes--a three-putt, hitting it in the water, missing a three-footer--but I made some great shots to save the round,” the left-hander said Saturday after Brett Ogle and Jim Gallagher Jr. took advantage of his uneven play to pull even at 14-under-par 201 after 54 holes.

Ogle had five birdies and a bogey in shooting a four-under 68, Gallagher shot a 69 and Mickelson, despite two eagles, had a 70.

Don Pooley had a 65, the best round of the day, and joined Paul Stankowski and Scott Simpson at 202. Tom Kite, Bob Tway and rookie David Duval were at 204.

Mickelson, who won the tournament as a 20-year-old amateur in 1991, had played 42 holes with only one bogey until he three-putted No. 7 on Saturday.

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Fred Couples, playing what he called a “great round” of four-under-par 68, tied Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie for the third-round lead of the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates.

The leaders had 54-hole totals of 14-under 202 going into today’s final round.

Montgomerie fizzled after birdies on the first three holes and finished with a 71. Tied for third at 203 were Greg Norman (69) and defending champion Ernie Els (67).

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Beth Daniel shot a two-under-par 70 to grab the second-round lead in the HealthSouth Inaugural tournament at Orlando, Fla. She is at three-under 141 for 36 holes.

Laura Davies had Saturday’s best score (69) and wound up tied at 142 with Missy McGeorge (70) and Cathy Johnston-Forbes (72).