Golf: Kiwis off the pace in Toronto

TORONTO - New Zealanders Michael Long and Grant Waite are well off the pace after three rounds of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, yesterday.

Long shot a two-under 69 to finish the day on a five-under-par aggregate of 208, 10 shots behind leader J.L. Lewis.

Waite had a bad day, shooting a 78 to finish on 216.

With Michelle Wie having missed the cut, the focus of attention shifted to Lewis as he carded a two-under 69 to surge three shots clear. Much of the buzz that had surrounded the warm-up event for next week's British Open at St Andrews disappeared when the American teenager failed in her bid to become the first female in 60 years to make the cut at a PGA Tour event.

American journeyman Lewis, 44, who claimed the first of his two tour titles at the John Deere in 1999, stepped into the spotlight by recording a 15-under aggregate of 198.

Fellow countrymen Hank Kuehne (67) and Craig Bowden (68) and Swede Richard S Johnson (68) shared second place on 201.

Lewis made a poor start at the TPC at Deere Run with a bogey on the first hole but he was error-free the rest of the way.

Birdies on seven and eight took him to one-under for the day before he picked up another stroke at the 15th. American Todd Hamilton, who will defend his British Open crown this week, had a 70 to stay in touch on eight-under 205.

- REUTERS