Love Is Leader of the Pack

Davis Love III is considered the top player in the Honda Classic and he showed why Saturday.

The only player at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., among the top 10 in the world was seven under par through the final 11 holes of the third round and finished with his second consecutive 65. He is at 20-under 196 and takes a one-shot lead into today’s final round.

Justin Leonard birdied the final six holes to shoot an eight-under 64 and will join Love and Chris Riley in the final group.

Leonard is one shot back and Riley two. Billy Mayfair, Woody Austin, Carlos Franco, Jerry Kelly, Tom Byrum and Notah Begay III are 17 under.

“Davis Love and Justin Leonard, they’re Hall of Famers in my book, so I think they will be the guys to beat,” Riley said. “They have been there a lot. I haven’t been there as much as them.

“That’s why people come out to watch ... to see if someone like me can beat those guys.”

Love, ranked seventh in the world, has been the most consistent player through three rounds -- shooting 66-65-65.

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Lorie Kane shot a five-under 65 to regain the lead after the third round of the Welch’s/Fry Championship at Tucson, the year’s first LPGA Tour event.

Kane also led after the first round after shooting a career-low 61, but she trailed Meg Mallon, who shot a 60 on Friday, by three shots going into the third.

A crucial swing occurred when Mallon, who had reached 19 under by playing 41 consecutive holes without a bogey, had back-to-back bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes. She finished with a 70.

Kane, playing just ahead, took the lead when she holed a four-foot birdie putt on No. 15 and parred out for a 54-hole total of 18-under 192.

Christina Kim shot a 62 on her 19th birthday and claimed sole possession of second place at 193. Mallon and playing partner Wendy Doolan -- who shot 67 -- will begin the final round two shots off the pace.

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James Kingston of South Africa moved into the lead after the second round of the Qatar Masters in Doha with a five-under 67. The third round was suspended because of darkness and will be completed this morning. Kingston is at nine-under 135 and has a three-stroke lead over David Howell and Jean Francois Remesy.