Appleby Drops 66 to Take Lead

Stuart Appleby made three straight birdies on the back nine Saturday at the TPC at Summerlin and shot a six-under 66 for a one-shot lead after the fourth round of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Appleby, seeking his first PGA Tour win since 1999, is at 28-under 259 heading into today’s final round of the 90-hole tournament.

Steve Flesch, who started the day in a tie for the lead with Scott Verplank, shot 68 and is a stroke behind Appleby at 260. Scott McCarron is three shots back after a five-under 67.

Scores in the low 60s were common through the first three rounds, which were played at the TPC at the Canyons and Southern Highlands Golf Club as well as the TPC at Summerlin. Things got back to normal in the fourth round with tougher pin placements at the TPC at Summerlin course.

That didn’t slow down Appleby, who consistently hit big drives that found the middle of the fairway and left him with short irons to the green.

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Rachel Teske had five birdies on the back nine -- including four on the last five holes -- and finished with a six-under 66 for a one-shot lead at 11-under 205 after three rounds of the Samsung World Championship at the Woodlands, Texas.

Se Ri Pak, the leader after two rounds, was one shot back along with Beth Daniel.

Annika Sorenstam, who shot a third-round 68, was two strokes behind.

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Tom Kite shot a five-under 67 and took the lead after two rounds at the Turtle Bay Championship in Kahuku, Hawaii.

Kite had four birdies on the back nine to put him at six-under 138.

Jan Stephenson, the first woman to play on the Champions Tour, shot a 12-over 84. She’s 79th in the 80-player field.