Clarke Settles Down and Takes a One-Stroke Lead

Darren Clarke hit one ball that ricocheted across the fairway and played another hole down the wrong fairway. When his wild ride was over, he wound up with the lead Saturday in the NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

Clarke gave himself a chance to win another World Golf Championship event, finishing with a four-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Jonathan Kaye.

“I got a few breaks early on,” said Clarke, who was at nine-under 201 on an increasingly firm course. “I hit some good shots and some bad shots, but thankfully my short game has been very sharp, and that’s what made the difference.”

Kaye, who won for the first time on the PGA Tour this year at the Buick Classic, birdied his first four holes and finished strong for a 65.

Clarke’s biggest victory came three years ago in the Match Play Championship, when he beat Tiger Woods in the 36-hole final at La Costa.

Despite three bogeys in four holes during the middle of his round, Woods regrouped to shoot a 67 and was three strokes behind. He has won the NEC Invitational the last three times it has been played at Firestone.

“I’m right where I need to be,” Woods said. “I need to get off to a good start, and keep it going this time.”

Chris Riley, a co-leader with David Toms going into the weekend, had an even-par 70 and was two shots behind at 203. Toms made a double bogey on the 17th and shot 76, dropping him eight strokes behind.

Davis Love III shot a 68 and also was at 204 with Woods, while the group at five-under 205 included Hal Sutton, Retief Goosen, Steve Flesch and Brad Faxon.

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At the U.S. Amateur in Oakmont, Pa., David Oh of Cerritos turned a three-hole deficit to Nick Flanagan of Australia into a two-hole lead during a five-hole swing that started at No. 8.

But Flanagan responded with a six-iron that landed within two feet on No. 13, a 183-yard par three. He won that hole and went on to win the semifinal match, 1 up.

In today’s 36-hole final, Flanagan will play Casey Wittenberg of Memphis, Tenn., who defeated Lee Williams of Alexander City, Ala., 5 and 4.

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Craig Barlow birdied four consecutive holes and was three strokes ahead of Tim Herron at 14 under with two holes left in the suspended third round of the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Barlow, seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, used a pair of 350-yard drives to spark the birdie string midway through his round at Montreux Golf and Country Club in Reno.

J.P. Hayes, Rod Pampling, Cameron Beckman and Guy Boros were the leaders in the clubhouse at nine-under 207 when darkness stopped play just before 8 p.m. PDT with Barlow, Herron and Dennis Paulson in the last group on the 17th green.

Barlow, Herron and Paulson, who is eight under, will have to complete the round before the final round begins this morning.

Barlow will return to a 15-foot par putt. Herron will begin with a four-foot birdie attempt on the 616-yard, par-five 17th.

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Candie Kung shot a six-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Meg Mallon after the third round of the Wachovia Classic at Kutztown, Pa.

Kung had six birdies to get to 12-under 204, just ahead of Mallon, the second-round leader. Mallon needed birdies on two of her last four holes, including a tap-in at 18, for a 71.

Karrie Webb (65) and Carin Koch (67) are three back. Defending champion Se Ri Pak shot herself back into contention with a 67 and is alone in fifth at 208.

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Don Pooley shot a four-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Allianz Championship at West Des Moines, Iowa.

Six challengers were within two strokes of Pooley, who had surgery for a torn ligament in his left shoulder Jan. 3 and could not play for five months. He is at nine-under 133.

First-round leader Bruce Lietzke was part of a trio at eight under after a 69. Bruce Fleisher (64) and Jim Thorpe (67) also were eight under.