Ace Keeps Maruyama in Lead

Shigeki Maruyama started with a double bogey, recovered with a hole in one and finished in the same place he started -- with a one-shot lead Saturday in the Sony Open.

Maruyama kept a large contingent of Japanese fans entertained to the very end, nearly reaching the par-five 18th in two for a simple birdie that gave him a two-under-par 68 in blustery conditions at Waialae Country Club.

He was at 10-under 200, with plenty of work left to collect his fourth PGA Tour victory.

Brett Quigley, winless in 220 starts on tour, settled down after a tentative start for a 68 that put him one shot behind and in the final group today with Maruyama.

Paul Azinger, the 2000 Sony Open champion whose low, boring shots are ideal for this wind, made all pars on the back nine but still shot a 67 and was at eight-under 202.

Seven other players were within five shots of the lead, including Vijay Singh, who shot a 67 to put him four shots behind.

For most of the contenders, the first full-field event of the year is ripe with opportunity.

Azinger finished No. 126 on the money list last year and no longer has exempt status. A victory would give a two-year exemption and let him pick his schedule around his TV work.

Former Masters champion Larry Mize also has no status. He got a sponsor’s exemption to the Sony Open, shot a 64 on Saturday and was at seven-under 203, along with Robert Gamez (68).

Charles Howell III also shot a 64 and was another shot behind.

Ernie Els probably took himself out of contention for a third consecutive victory at the Sony Open. He had to rally on the back nine for an even-par 70, leaving him eight shots behind.

Maruyama lost his one-shot lead after one hole, driving into right rough, laying up and missing the green to take double bogey. He got it right back with an ace on No. 4, using a six-iron from 202 yards to produce the loudest roar of the week.

Quigley and Azinger both squandered birdie chances on the final hole, Quigley with a poor shot from the fairway bunker, Azinger with a heavy pitch from in front of the green.

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In the Swing

After the Mercedes Championships (won by Stuart Appleby) and the Sony Open of Hawaii this weekend, the rest of the PGA Tour’s West Coast swing:

*--* Date Tournament Course (City) ’04 Champion Jan. 20-23 Buick Torrey Pines GC (La Jolla) John Daly Invitation al Jan. 26-30 Bob Hope PGA West, Tamarisk, La Phil Mickelson Chrysler Quinta, Bermuda Dunes (La Classic Quinta) Feb. 3-6 FBR Open TPC of Scottsdale Jonathan Kaye Feb. 10-13 AT&T; Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Vijay Singh Pebble Poppy Hills (Pebble Beach) Beach National Pro-Am Feb. 17-20 Nissan Open Riviera Country Club (Pacific Mike Weir Palisades) Feb. 23-27 WGC-Accent La Costa Resort & Spa Tiger Woods ure Match (Carlsbad) Play Championsh ip Feb. 24-27 Chrysler Omni Tucson National Golf Heath Slocum Classic Resort & Spa

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