Consistent Paulson Leads

On a day of scintillating shots and shocking collapses, Carl Paulson played a steady hand Saturday in the Players Championship and positioned himself for the biggest surprise of all.

Untested and relatively unknown, Paulson, 31, posted a three-under-par 69 for the third day in a row at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., to build a one-stroke lead over Craig Perks going into the final round of one of toughest and most exciting tests in golf.

Paulson, at nine-under 207, will try to become the first player in the 28-year history of the Players Championship to earn his first victory at an event widely regarded as the fifth major.

But it is far from over.

Thirteen players were within six shots of the lead, including defending champion Tiger Woods, PGA champion David Toms, Mike Weir, Sergio Garcia and resurgent Nick Faldo.

If the names aren’t frightening enough, the Stadium Course is intimidating.

“If you lose your focus at any point, you’re going to make a big number,” said Weir, who had a 68 and was at 211.

Agony is always right around the corner on the nasty TPC at Sawgrass, and there was plenty of evidence on a breezy, devilish afternoon.

* Phil Mickelson took five putts from 18 feet on the 10th hole to drop out of contention, and added a three-putt from 15 feet on the 17th.

“Throwing away that many shots on one hole certainly hurt,” he said.

* Craig Stadler shot up the board with three birdies and a hole in one on the back nine before finding sand, water and woods and playing the final three holes in six over.

“It stunk up the whole day real quick,” Stadler said.

* Rocco Mediate was creeping up on the leaders until he drove into the lake that runs down the left side of the fairway on the 18th hole for a bogey. He finished with a 69 and was at 210, along with Jeff Sluman (72).

Despite back-to-back bogeys on the back nine, Woods escaped with a 70 and was in a large group at 213, still a chance for him to become the first repeat winner of the Players.

“I just need to get the ball in position to make birdies,” Woods said.

Paulson, who overcame viral meningitis at the start of the season, will be paired in the final group with Perks, a New Zealander who has the distinction of being an All-American at two colleges (Oklahoma, Louisiana Lafayette).

Neither has a PGA Tour victory. The last time that much inexperience was found in the final group on Sunday afternoon at Sawgrass was in 1996, and neither Tommy Tolles nor David Duval went on to win.

Only last year, Jerry Kelly had a two-stroke lead going into the final round and failed to hang on against Woods.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if one of those guys comes out and shoots 66 tomorrow,” Mediate said. “That’s how stars are made.”

Paulson is No. 181 in the world rankings. The only other time he held a 54-hole lead was at the Tampa Bay Classic two years ago, and he closed with a 72 to finish three behind.

Perks is No. 203 in the world. His most clutch performance was tying for sixth at Disney last year to finish in the top 125 on the money list and keep his card.

“They’re players that maybe not everyone is familiar with, but those out on tour are, and know they’re very talented,” Mickelson said. “A lot of players on tour expect them to win real soon.”

Juli Inkster, stung by a bogey early on the back nine, recovered with an eagle two holes later and shot a two-under 70 for a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Welch’s-Circle K Classic at Tucson.

Even with strong wind gusts that made for tricky approach shots and putts, Inkster tied Annika Sorenstam’s 54-hole tournament record of 16-under 200.

Laura Diaz shot a 68 and Dorothy Delasin had a 69 to remain two shots behind Inkster, the 1999 Tucson winner.

Sorenstam, the winner the last two years, made a strong charge. The former University of Arizona star birdied six of the first 12 holes and finished with a 67, tied with Mi Hyun Kim (66) and Nancy Scranton (72) at 205.

The seven-player group at 206 included 1988 Tucson winner Laura Davies (70) and amateur Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, a sophomore at Arizona, who carded a 69.

Karrie Webb, trying to regain the form that made her the LPGA Tour’s player of the year in 1999 and 2000, shot 70 to finish seven shots off the pace.