Golf: Norman loses lead in water

Greg Norman, ahead by two strokes after the second round, struggled on almost every hole yesterday in the Kemper Open and lost his lead in the water at the sixth.

The result was a jumbled leaderboard, with no one taking control and a bevy of players in contention.

Bob Estes and Bob Burns shot 69s to lead at 10-under 203. Jay Williamson, who led the tournament after three rounds six years ago before nerves got the best of him, shot a 67 to match Bob May, who had a 69, at nine under.

Rich Beem, the 1999 Kemper winner, was eight under along with Franklin Langham, Duffy Waldorf and Andrew Magee.

Norman was three off the pace with Justin Leonard, Kirk Triplett and Australia's Steve Elkington.

New Zealand's Phil Tataurangi is close to the action at 210, seven shots off the pace after a 71 yesterday. Former tournament winner Grant Waite is well adrift after shooting a 75 and is at 216. Michael Long failed to make the cut.

* Phillip Price fired a four-under 68 in the British Masters yesterday and holds a one-shot lead over fellow Briton Ian Poulter.

Price's only bogey of the day came at the final hole and it took the Welshman, who claimed Europe's final automatic Ryder Cup place, back to 15-under for a three-round aggregate of 201.

Poulter salvaged a par on the last to shoot a 67 and close the gap as both players seek their third European titles. New Zealand's Elliot Boult is at 216 after rounds of 74, 70 and 72.

* Karrie Webb's tune-up for her title defence at the year's second women's major looks promising - but not as promising as Annika Sorenstam's.

World No 1 Sorenstam was in familiar territory at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic in Aurora, Illinois, yesterday, leading the field by five shots after two rounds at 14-under 130. Webb was tied for third.

- AGENCIES