Golf: Ogilvie in two-shot lead with day to go

TORONTO - Joe Ogilvie sat atop the Bob Hope Classic pro-am leaderboard for the fourth successive day yesterday after carding a three-under 69 to forge two shots clear of Australia's Peter Lonard going into the final round.

Normally, after four rounds, the American would be celebrating his first PGA Tour title.

But Ogilvie will have to hang on for one more round: the Bob Hope is the last of the tour's 90-hole events, a five-day marathon played out in the Californian desert on four different courses around La Quinta.

The 30-year-old Ogilvie, who began the day two strokes ahead of Lonard, finished with a 26-under total of 262.

"I like having the lead," said Ogilvie, whose fourth round included yet another eagle, giving him four for the tournament.

"I'll be attacking [today], the PGA West suits my game. With five par-fives it's the type of course you can attack.

"It's going to be a shootout. I know I'm going to have to shoot 64, 65 to win, but I'm looking forward to it. It should be a fun day."

Lonard, a winner on the European circuit but also seeking his first PGA Tour title, posted a 69 for 264, 24 under.

Former British Open champion Justin Leonard moved into third place after firing an eight-under 64 for 265.

South African Tim Clark was four off the pace after a six-under 66 gave him a total of 266.

He was followed on 267 by Americans Loren Roberts and Jim Furyk, Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson and Britain's Ian Poulter.

Poulter rocketed up the leaderboard with the day's second-best round, recording two eagles on the front nine on the way to a nine-under 63 at the PGA West.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson had to settle for a four-under 68 but remained in the hunt for a third title among a pack of six golfers on 268.

Scott Verplank used the top round of the day, a 10-under 62, to vault into contention on 19-under 269.

After a woeful front nine that included a double bogey and two bogeys, John Daly did what he had to do to make the cut by a single stroke. Birdies on five of his last six holes gave him a one-under 71 and an aggregate of 277.

Canadian left-hander Mike Weir, the 2003 champion, missed the cut on 284.

The professional field will be reduced to 70 for the final round at the PGA West.

- REUTERS