Tolles Shoots 67 to Move Into Lead

Tommy Tolles shot a three-under-par 67 on Saturday, holding off fast-closing Davis Love III by a stroke after three rounds of the Sony Open at Honolulu.

Tolles completed 54 holes at 202. Love shot a bogey-free 63 on Saturday and was at 203.

Tolles continued an up-and-down performance. After shooting an opening-round 63, he struggled to a 72 on Friday before regaining his touch in the third round.

“Davis has a lot of experience,” Tolles said. “He is not going to cut any slack. I have more at stake. I’m trying to get over the hump and win my first tournament.”

John Huston, who won the Hawaiian Open a year ago with a PGA Tour-record 28-under 280, and Mark O’Meara both birdied the 551-yard 18th hole at the Waialae Country Club to finish two strokes behind Tolles.

Jeff Sluman and Jeff Maggert, each with 66s, were at 205 along with Nolan Henke, Esteban Toledo, Mike Hulbert and Len Mattiace. Another stroke behind were Chris Riley and Larry Mize.

Brandel Chamblee, who led at the halfway mark, shot a four-over 74 and fell back to 208.

With Love already in the clubhouse at seven under, Tolles was at eight under at the turn with Huston and O’Meara at six under.

But none could muster a rally on the trip in, playing the final nine holes in even par.

Love’s seven-under performance didn’t come easy.

“It was an interesting round,” he said. “I made a lot of birdies, but I also missed a lot of greens and I had to make up-and-downs for pars. It was a scramble.”

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Tina Barrett hasn’t won in 10 years. Catriona Matthew of Scotland can’t recall even being in the lead on the LPGA Tour. Both put themselves in good position to change that in the HealthSouth Inaugural at Orlando, Fla.

Barrett overcame a bogey on the first hole to shoot a four-under 68 and join Matthew, who shot a 69, at nine-under 135 after two rounds on the Grand Cypress Resort course.

But they’ll have their work cut out for them today, especially if they take a peek at who is trying to track them down.

One stroke back is Karrie Webb, who worked harder than ever in the off-season to prove she belongs at the top of women’s golf. Tied with Webb at 136 is another Hall of Famer--not Nancy Lopez, who struggled to a 74, but Patty Sheehan, in position to win for the first time since 1996.

Annika Sorenstam shot 72 and was at 141, with defending champion Kelly Robbins. Se Ri Pak shot 74 and missed the cut for the first time since the Hawaiian Open last year, a streak of 24 tournaments.

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In Front

Leaders through Saturday’s play (Complete scores, Page 14):

SONY OPEN--Par 70

Tommy Tolles: 63-72-67--202 -8

Davis Love III: 71-69-63--203 -7

Mark O’Meara: 66-71-67--204 -6

John Huston: 68-68-68--204 -6

HEALTHSOUTH INAUGURAL--Par 72

Tina Barrett: 67-68--135 -9

Catriona Matthew: 66-69--135 -9

Patty Sheehan: 70-66--136 -8

Karrie Webb: 68-68--136 -8

Jean Bartholomew: 70-68--138 -6