Stankowski Leads by One

Neither high winds nor soft mud prevented Paul Stankowski from shooting a six-under-par 66 and taking a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Honda Classic at Coral Springs, Fla., on Saturday.

One day after morning rains flooded the fairways and washed out the second round, Stankowski was able to lift, clean and place his ball on the soft TPC course at Heron Bay. He made four of his six birdies from no farther than eight feet.

“The wind didn’t blow as much,” said Stankowski, who has a three-round total of 11-under 133. “That made it easier to get to some of the pins.”

John Huston and Michael Bradley each shot a 65 and were one stroke back at 134. Lee Janzen one-putted the final five holes for a 68 and was two strokes back with Doug Martin and Greg Kraft.

Payne Stewart, needing a victory in the next four weeks to qualify for the Masters, and Colin Montgomerie were among those at eight-under 136.

The tournament will conclude today with a 36-hole final, a first on the PGA Tour since Fred Couples won the Buick Open in 1994. Stankowski hasn’t played 36 holes in one day since he tried unsuccessfully to qualify for the U.S. Open in 1995.

“Tomorrow will be an endurance test,” Stankowski said. “I’ll have to load up on carbohydrates--pasta tonight, pancakes in the morning. I’m not a physical specimen.”

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Annika Sorenstam had a birdie-par-eagle start in the third round of the Welch’s-Circle K Championship at Tucson, then lost her putting magic and struggled to a one-stroke lead.

Sorenstam, a two-time U.S. Open winner from Sweden, finished at three-under 69 and 12-under 204 for the tournament.

Donna Andrews, the 1994 champion, shot an eagle on the 18th hole to salvage a 70 and a second-place tie with Tina Barrett.