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Bean Takes 1-Shot Lead In Champions Tour Event

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The Associated Press

Published: May 18, 2008

HOOVER, Ala. - Andy Bean of Lakeland birdied the final hole to take a one-shot lead over Mike Goodes on Saturday heading into the final round of the Regions Charity Classic, with two top Champions Tour players in close pursuit.

Loren Roberts and Denis Watson were two strokes behind after closing the gap with matching 66s. Bean capped a second-round 68 with a 15 1/2 -foot birdie putt on the 7,356-yard Ross Bridge course, moving to 11 under.

"I was sure when it was halfway there it was in," Bean said. "That's a great feeling."

The 5-foot-7 Goodes nearly matched the strong finish to preserve the tie for first place for a second straight day, but settled for par when his try for birdie fell inches from the hole.

"I just can't shake the little guy," said the 6-foot-4 Bean, an 11-time PGA Tour winner seeking his second win on the Champions Tour.

Goodes is after his first. An amateur until two years ago, the North Carolina businessman has had to qualify for all six of his events this year and can nab a year's exemption with a win.

"I've been telling myself for the last few months I just want to be in position where I have a hard time sleeping Saturday night," Goodes said. "It's easy to sleep when you're tied for 40th."

Howell Cards 67 To Take Top Spot At AT&T Classic

DULUTH, Ga. - Charles Howell III shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over Kenny Perry into the final round of the AT&T Classic.

An Augusta native seeking his third PGA Tour victory and first since the 2007 Nissan Open, Howell had a 13-under 203 total at TPC Sugarloaf.

Perry shot a 69. David Toms (69), Ryan Palmer (70) and second-round leader Jonathan Byrd (73) were two strokes back at 11 under.

With storms expected this afternoon, the players will tee off in threesomes, starting on both the first and 10th holes.

Tampa's Ryuji Imada, the former Chamberlain High standout who finished second to Zach Johnson in a playoff last year, shot a 66 to tie Heath Slocum (69) for sixth and move within three shots of the lead.

Ochoa Ahead By 2 In Sybase Classic

CLIFTON, N.J. - Lorena Ochoa said her own little goodbye to Annika Sorenstam.

The two-time defending champion shot a 5-under 67 and left the retiring Sorenstam in her wake after two rounds of the $2 million Sybase Classic.

Ochoa will enter today's final round of the now-54-hole tournament with a 9-under 135 total and a two-shot lead over third-year tour player Teresa Lu and veteran Sophie Gustafson. South Koreans H.J. Choi and Na Yeon Choi (no relation) are three behind.

Sorenstam, who announced Tuesday that this would be her final year on the LPGA Tour, was five back after a 1-over 73.

Ochoa has won 16 of 23 LPGA events in which she has taken the lead into the final round, including all five this year.

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