LA QUINTA, Calif. - Like a pitcher working a no-hitter, Kirk Triplett didn't want to hear about his bogey-free run.
Triplett shot 9-under-par 63 Saturday, completing 72 holes without a bogey and tying Phil Mickelson for the lead at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Asked about his streak, Triplett laughed and said, "Yeah, that's what it is. And I'm not saying any more about that."
He finally did, though.
Asked if he could recall the last time he played four rounds without a bogey, he chuckled again and said, "Yeah. Never."
He acknowledged he's a little superstitious about it.
"You bring it up or you hear the commentator, "The guy is a great this or a great that,' and immediately he blows whatever they're saying he was doing well," Triplett said.
"It's something that I'll remember. I'm excited about it, and hopefully I can extend it to 90."
Triplett has 24 birdies, an eagle and 47 pars to match Mickelson at 26 under.
Mickelson, the 2002 winner, shot 67 at Bermuda Dunes but saw his two-shot lead evaporate.
"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I obviously haven't won a tournament in a while, but I have not been in contention for a while," said Mickelson, looking for his first victory in 19 months.
Kenny Perry, the 1995 champion, had eagles on the par-5 fifth and sixth at La Quinta Country Club for his second 64 of the tournament. He was one shot back.
"I look back in my 18 years, I don't know if I've ever made back-to-back eagles," Perry said. "There's not too many places you have back-to-back par 5s, either."
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Doug Tewell shot bogey-free 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead at the season-opening MasterCard Championship in Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii.
Tewell had five birdies on the back nine to finish with a tournament-record 15-under 129.
Dave Eichelberger was second after 65.
On Friday, Tewell was 6 under when the first round was suspended because of darkness, after a 11/2-hour delay because of rain and lightning. He finished the first round with birdies on Nos.15 and 18 for 64 and a one-stroke lead.
Defending champion Dana Quigley (65) and Fuzzy Zoeller (65) were three strokes back.
Jack Nicklaus had 66 and was 10-under 134, along with Bruce Fleisher (65), Tom Purtzer (67) and Gil Morgan (67).
Nicklaus' 66 was his lowest round since shooting the same in the final round of last year's MasterCard Championship.
EUROPEAN PGA: Soren Hansen shot 7-under 65 and held a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Hansen was at 18-under 198, with Gregory Havret (64) and Raphael Jacquelin (68) second.
