Perry Takes Lead at Bay Hill

Kenny Perry and Vijay Singh moved to the front of the pack in separate races Saturday at the Bay Hill Invitational.

Perry was leading the tournament at nine under par when the third round was suspended by darkness, thanks to his amazing accuracy off the tee. Singh seized control of the battle for No. 1, thanks to collapses by Tiger Woods and Ernie Els at Orlando, Fla.

A marathon day at Bay Hill that featured wild shifts in momentum finally ended with Perry taking a one-shot lead over Stephen Ames into a final day that should be equally taxing.

Perry, who missed two fairways in 29 holes Saturday, took the 36-hole lead, his first on the PGA Tour in nearly two years, with a four-under 68 in the second round that was played in the morning. He added two quick birdies to keep his name at the top. Ames was at eight under, while Singh birdied the 13th hole in near darkness to reach seven under, along with K.J. Choi.

Singh could get the No. 1 ranking back by finishing in a two-way tie for third -- provided Woods winds up out of the top 20.

And that certainly looks possible after Woods fell back to even par, going three over through 13 holes of the third round. And Woods was only one shot better than Els, who shot a second-round 77 and made the cut on the number.

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Lorena Ochoa gave up a commanding lead with a double bogey on the 16th hole, finishing with a one-under 71 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the LPGA’s Safeway International at Superstition Mountain, Ariz.

Ochoa, the 23-year-old Mexican star who won twice last year, had a 13-under 203 total. Playing partner Soo-Yun Kang was second after a 70, and defending champion Annika Sorenstam was four strokes back.

Fifteen-year-old amateur Michelle Wie shot a 73 to finish at three under.