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Golf

Parry sleepwalks past Blue Monster

By wire services
Published March 7, 2004

MIAMI - Craig Parry hasn't quite adjusted to the time change from Australia, but he seems to have figured out Doral's Blue Monster just fine.

His biggest problem through three rounds of the Ford Championship has been getting to the course on time.

Parry shot 5-under 67 Saturday, moving to 13-under 203 and taking a one-shot lead over Gene Sauers (64) and Scott Verplank (65).

Phil Mickelson, David Toms, Joe Durant, Chris DiMarco and two others were at 11 under. The tightly grouped field - 18 players within five shots of the lead - should make for an exciting final round on Doral's beefed-up Blue Monster course.

The signature par-4 18th has a good chance to determine the outcome. The 467-yard hole, lengthened by 24 yards last year, allowed just four birdies Saturday and 22 through three rounds.

Danny Ellis found the water on his second shot, made double bogey and dropped to 11 under. Durant three-putted for bogey.

Mickelson and second-round leader Retief Goosen, who fell off the pace with 71, made two of the four birdies there playing in the final group.

Not coincidentally, Parry is the only player near the top of the leaderboard who hasn't made bogey on No. 18, which is playing tougher (4.55 scoring average) than any hole this year, in relation to par.

The conditions could play a role, too. With little wind Saturday, the course played much easier. Thirty-four players scored in the 60s after only 41 were in the 60s during the first two rounds, with twice as many players before the cut.

"This course is designed to be played with wind," said Mark Calcavecchia, who was four back after triple bogey on No. 12.

Parry went 48 holes without bogey before making one at the par-4 No. 17 Saturday. His last bogey came on his fourth hole of the first round, a hole on which he was still warming up.

The Australian woke up Thursday less than 15 minutes before his 7:54 tee time, saying he slept right through the alarm clock because he was so jet-lagged from his trip.

EUROPEAN PGA: Tiger Woods is running out of time to charge at the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates. He made four birdies in the third round and shot 3-under 69 to trail co-leaders Mark O'Meara and second-round leader Paul McGinley by six strokes heading into today's final round.

O'Meara, Woods' friend and neighbor who is winless on the PGA Tour since 1998, shot 4-under 68, and McGinley shot 69 for 202. England's Brian Davis was three off the lead after 69.

Woods, coming off a victory in the Match Play Championship last week, believes the tournament is wide open.

"Anyone on that board over there can definitely do it tomorrow," Woods said.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Graham Marsh shot 6-under 66 for a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the MasterCard Classic in Huixquilucan, Mexico. The 60-year-old moved to 8-under 136, one ahead of Hugh Baiocchi (66). First-round leader Andy Bean shot 74 for 141.

AUSTRALIAN/EUROPEAN WOMEN: Rachel Teske shot 1-under 71 in wet conditions to cut the big lead Laura Davies (77) to two strokes after the third round of the Australian Open in Sydney.

[Last modified March 7, 2004, 01:35:55]


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