Ace Helps Toms Share the Lead

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

On a day of low scoring and a wild scramble for the lead, Toms shot an eight-under-par 64 and wound up in a four-way tie for the top spot with Fred Couples, Jeff Sluman and Bart Bryant at 12-under 204.

“I put myself in position today, and that’s all I did,” Toms said. “I’m not going to be able to make pars and hope it’s good enough. There are too many guys who can do what I did today.”

Ten others were within four shots of the lead -- including Tiger Woods -- setting up what should be a shootout today at Muirfield Village. Woods made three bogeys in his round of 71 and was at eight-under 208.

“You’ve got to shoot what everyone else is shooting,” Couples said after a 66. “I have just as good a chance as eight or 10 guys.”

Bryant recovered from a double bogey at No. 2 when he hit his approach into the creek, making five birdies on the back nine. He had a 66.

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Annika Sorenstam shot a six-under 65 to surge into a tie with Juli Inkster heading into the final round of the ShopRite Classic at Galloway Township, N.J.

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, is one stroke back.

Davies tied her career-low for 18 holes. She had a 30 on the front nine, parring the first two holes and then getting an eagle and three birdies on the next four holes. She picked up three more birdies on the back nine.

The previous 18-hole record at the Classic was 63, held by Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, Pat Hurst, Maria Hjorth and Se Ri Pak.

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Mike Reid shot a five-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Allianz Championship at Polk City, Iowa.

Reid’s one-bogey second round left him at seven-under 135 for the tournament.

Bob Gilder matched Reid’s 66 to pull into contention at five under, along with Morris Hatalsky (67), Bruce Fleisher (70) and first-round co-leader Tom Jenkins (72).

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Pepperdine senior Michael Putnam lost in a three-hole playoff to Washington junior James Lepp to finish second in the NCAA Division I men’s championship at Owings Mills, Md.

Putnam missed a six-foot putt for par on the 18th hole and Lepp sank a two-foot par putt to win the title. Both players made par on the 18th and ninth to go to a third playoff hole.

Putnam, who shot a one-under 69, entered the day with a one-shot lead over Georgia Tech’s Roberto Castro and Major Manning of Augusta State at three-under 207.

Lepp, who entered the round tied for eighth, six shots back, played himself into contention after shooting a seven-under 63. He finished at four-under 276.

Georgia won the team title with a 15-over total. Georgia Tech was second, nine shots back. USC was sixth, 24 shots behind. It was the Trojans’ highest finish since 1995 (fifth).