Toms uses ace to gain share of Memorial lead

David Toms feared his 5-iron was headed for the back bunker on the par-3 fourth hole, so when it kissed off the pin and dropped into the cup for an ace, he figured Saturday might be his day at the Memorial.

He wasn't the only guy who felt that way.

On a day of low scoring and a wild scramble for the lead, Toms shot an 8-under 64 and wound up in a four-way tie for the lead with Fred Couples, Jeff Sluman and Bart Bryant.

Ten others were within four shots of the lead -- including Tiger Woods, one of the few players stuck in neutral -- setting up what should be a shootout today at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.

Sluman, who started the day with a one-shot lead, had a chance to finish it that way until a 40-foot birdie putt that he ran up over the fringe slid just below the cup.

LPGA Tour

With steely determination and precise putting, Annika Sorenstam shot a 6-under 65 Saturday to surge into a tie with Juli Inkster heading into the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway Township, N.J.

Setting the stage for the kind of Sunday showdown she relishes, Sorenstam birdied five of the last seven holes to erase Inkster's opening-round lead, putting both at 10 under for the tournament.

The LPGA Hall of Famers will have more than each other to worry about in the final round: Laura Davies, who shot a tournament-record 62 Saturday, is one stroke back at 9 under.

Champions Tour

Mike Reid is still going strong after his head-turning victory a week ago.

Reid, enjoying unusual success on the longer holes, shot a 5-under 66 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Allianz Championship in Polk City, Iowa.

Only three days ago, Reid still seemed in a daze over what he had done in the Senior PGA Championship last Sunday, when he came from three strokes down on the final hole to force a playoff, then won it on the first extra hole.

But he sure seems settled down and focused now. His near-perfect second round -- only one bogey -- left him at 7-under 135 for the tournament.

Bob Gilder, who changed his putting grip just before the round, matched Reid's 66 to pull into contention at 5 under along with Morris Hatalsky (67), Bruce Fleisher (70) and first-round co-leader Tom Jenkins (72).