Leonard Makes Run, Sets Record

Making up for years of frustration at Harbour Town, Justin Leonard shot a five-under-par 66 Saturday to break the WorldCom Classic’s 54-hole scoring record at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Leonard, who has never finished higher than 30th in the event and thought about skipping the tournament, has thrived on the Harbour Town’s tight, tree-lined fairways and small greens.

He had seven birdies and two bogeys for a 16-under 197 total, bettering the mark of 198 set by Hale Irwin in 1994 and tied by Loren Roberts two years later.

“Fifty-four-hole records are great,” said Leonard, who had a three-stroke lead. “But we want to have 72-hole records.”

He needs a 68 to tie Roberts’ record of 265, set en route to the 1996 title. That’s more than Leonard’s shot (67-64-66) in three rounds.

Leonard led Cameron Beckman by three strokes. Phil Mickelson, who matched Jack Nicklaus’ 1975 scoring mark for the first two rounds, faded to a one-over 72 and was tied with Heath Slocum (66), four shots behind.

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Cristie Kerr put herself in position for her first LPGA Tour title, shooting a five-under 67 to take a five-stroke lead in the Longs Drugs Challenge at Lincoln, Calif.

Kerr had an 11-under 205 total on the Twelve Bridges course.

Miscellany

Wisconsin wide receiver Lee Evans, who elected to stay for his senior season instead of making himself available for this weekend’s NFL draft, injured his left knee in the Badgers’ spring game on Saturday. Coach Barry Alvarez said Evans had ligament damage and might need surgery.

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Polish-born Dariusz Michalczewski of Germany improved to 46-0 when he knocked out Joey de Grandis of the United States in the second round at Gdansk, Poland, to defend his World Boxing Organization light-heavyweight title for the 21st time.

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Joe Calzaghe of Wales improved to 33-0 and retained his WBO super-middleweight title with a unanimous 12-round decision over American Charles Brewer at Cardiff, Wales.

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The No. 2-ranked UCLA men’s tennis team lost, 5-2, to No. 19 California in Berkeley on Saturday but still won the Pacific 10 Conference regular-season title with a 6-1 record. Cal (5-2) moved into a second-place tie with Stanford and USC.

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The Ice Dogs lost to the visiting Fresno Falcons, 4-1, at Long Beach. Their best-of-five West Coast Hockey League playoff series is tied at 2-2, with the deciding game today at 4 at the Long Beach Arena.