Ogilvy takes two-shot lead at Australian Masters

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Geoff Ogilvy took a two-stroke lead Saturday in the Australian Masters, shooting an 8-under 63 on his boyhood course at Victoria Golf Club.

Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, had a 13-under 200 total. He eagled the short par-4 opening hole -- hitting a 3-iron to 5 feet -- and had nine birdies and three bogeys.

England's Ian Poulter, the leader after each of the first two rounds, was second after a 69. Australians Nathan Green (67) and Ashley Hall (68) were 9 under.

Greg Chalmers topped a group at 7 under after 67. He's trying to become the second player to complete the Australian Triple Crown after sweeping the Australian Open and Australian PGA last month. Robert Allenby accomplished the feat in 2005.

Top-ranked Luke Donald was 5 under after a 69.

Ogilvy's round tied the eight-year-old course record set by John Wade.

"I think I left a few shots out there weirdly enough, but I think I stole a couple as well, so it all balances out," Ogilvy said.

The Australian followed up his eagle at the 233 meter first hole with a birdie at the second after a long-iron approach to within a few feet, then sank a 50-foot putt for birdie at the third.

After a bogey at the 398-meter par-four fifth, Ogilvy reeled off birdies at four of the next five holes to cement his lead and to complete his outward nine in 29.

He pitched in from 40 meters for birdie at the 400 meter par-four 12th to move to eight under for his round and to a four shot lead. But his run ended with a bogey at the 435-yard par-four 13th, the hardest hole on the course, before a birdie at the last.

"To start eagle, birdie, birdie you're usually going to have a pretty good day after you do that which is a bonus," Ogilvy said. "Playing a thousand rounds on this course I've probably only made three or four twos on the first, or maybe five, but not many, so to start a round like that was pretty good.

"After that every time I had a wedge in my hands on the fairway I hit it pretty close."

Poulter said he struggled with the northeasterly wind on Saturday after southwesterlies on the first two days.

"Hats off to Geoff for going out and scoring 8-under-par in that wind today, it's a great score," Poulter said. "When someone posts a course record on you on Saturday then generally they move forward. Geoff's done that and I'll be chasing him down tomorrow."

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Schwartzel pulls to within four of Westwood in Thailand

BANGKOK -- Masters champion Charl Schwartzel shot a second straight 6-under 66 on Saturday move four strokes behind Lee Westwood at the Thailand Golf Championship.

Westwood led by 11 strokes at the halfway stage after going bogey-free on the opening two days but a 1-over 73 in the third round allowed Schwartzel to cut the deficit.

Schwartzel holed four straight birdies from the 2nd hole and was within three shots of the lead heading to the last but a bogey 5 gave Westwood some breathing space.

Westwood's total of 197 for three rounds left him at 19 under. Schwartzel was at 201, and Michael Thompson of the United States had a 69 to put him in third at 12-under 204.

"I didn't expect to be four shots back at the start of today's round," Schwartzel said. "I knew I had to shoot a low score. Lee didn't play particularly well. I've seen him play much better golf.

"I feel I still need to shoot a 64 or 65 on the last day to get a chance. At least there's a light at the end of the tunnel now. Four shots is not much out there."

Schwartzel came from four shots back to win his first major at the Masters in April.

"I've won about two or three tournaments where I was four shots behind," he said. "I don't know what the secret is. I just play my own game when I'm out there."

Westwood shot a career-low 60 in the first round and followed that with a 64. He had four bogeys on Saturday as his form dipped.

"After a 60 and 64, you have to be a bit realistic unfortunately," Westwood said. "A lot of people are going to think you're going to shoot 60, 62 and 64 every day but I'm afraid golf is not like that. Every day you have to reset your goals and your sights.

"A four-shot lead into the last round is a good position to be in."

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Perfect match: MLB offseason full of win-win trades - SportingNews.com

USA Today

Perfect match: MLB offseason full of win-win trades SportingNews.com Saturday's five-player deal that sent righthander Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres to the Cincinnati Reds is a classic example of a trade that helps both teams. Obviously, such trades don't pay immediate dividends to both organizations. ... Reds get Latos from Padres for 4 playersSI.com Reds land Latos in five-player deal with PadresMLB.com Padres trade Latos to Reds in multi-player dealYahoo! Sports FOXSports.com -KentuckySports.co -CBSSports.com (blog) all 212 news articles »

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Dubai winner Thompson youngest ever on Ladies Euro Tour

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- American teenager Lexi Thompson shot a 5-under 67 to win the Dubai Ladies Masters and become the youngest professional winner on the Ladies European Tour on Saturday.

The 16-year-old Thompson pulled away from Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa to win by four strokes for her second professional victory. In September, she won her first event to became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour.

"It feels amazing," Thompson said. "I'm just honored they invited me back and I'm just grateful to be here. I've been working on my game really hard and it has paid off."

South Korea's Amy Yang is the youngest winner ever on the LET, following her victory as an amateur at the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters.

Thompson chipped in for a birdie on No. 9 to take a one-shot lead over Pace and extended her lead with four birdies on the back nine for 15-under 273 total.

Pace (69) started strong with two birdies and an eagle on her first six holes, but shaky putting on the back nine ended her chances.

The 2010 European Tour money winner, Pace said hit her approach shot on No. 12 over the green for her second bogey in five holes.

"Things could have been a little different," Pace said. "I hit a bad club on 12, which cost me a shot, and that is where things changed around."

Sophie Gustafson of Sweden (71) was a shot behind Pace in third place followed by four players another shot back.

Michelle Wie (72) came into the final round five shots behind leader Thompson. She fell out of contention with two bogeys and a double-bogey on the front nine, finishing tied for 12th.

"It was pretty frustrating. I couldn't get my putts going," Wie said. "I just needed to play better on the front nine all week. Nothing really went. Nothing went in. At least, I finished birdie, birdie. I gotta work on a lot of things for next season."

Thompson has momentum heading into the 2012 season.

"I'm just going to continue working hard and just try to improve every tournament," she said.

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