At Record 22 Under, Webb Knows the Score

Karrie Webb already has set one LPGA record. Now she is in position at the Australian Ladies Masters for the best finish ever on the LPGA Tour.

Webb sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the last green for a three-round total of 194, a 54-hole, tour-record 22 under par.

If she finishes two under today, the Australian will break the record of 23 under, shared by South Korean Se Ri Pak, Canadian Lisa Walters and American Wendy Ward.

Webb broke her own Royal Pines course record Thursday, shooting a nine-under 63, and followed with a 67 Friday and a 64 Saturday to eclipse Ward’s 54-hole LPGA record of 21 under in the Fieldcrest Cannon Classic in North Carolina in 1997.

She heads into today’s final round at Gold Coast seven shots ahead of Scotland’s Janice Moodie. Alison Nicholas is third, eight shots behind after matching Webb’s 64.

“Records don’t mean all that much if you are not holding up the trophy at the end of the day,” Webb said.

Nicholas, who won last week’s Hawaiian Open, started her round in stunning style with birdies on the opening two holes before recording a double eagle on the par-five third with a spectacular three-wood shot out of the light rough.

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Tommy Armour III and Barry Cheesman took different paths to leadership of the Tucson Open.

Armour, who won in Phoenix nine years ago and has been seeking his second title ever since, carded a bogey-free, five-under 67 in the third round. Cheesman settled for a 69 when he bogeyed the 18th hole--his third attempt at saving par in the last five holes.

At 10-under 206, the pair were one stroke ahead of Tommy Tolles and Mike Weir, who matched Armour’s 67.

Corey Pavin and John Daly, the most prominent players left in contention, were in a group of three at 210.

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Allen Doyle overcame a shaky start to fire a two-under 70, extending his lead to two shots entering the final round of the Ace Group Classic seniors tournament at Naples, Fla.

Doyle, the medalist in December’s Senior PGA Tour qualifying tournament, recovered from two bogeys in the first three holes to finish with a two-day total of 10-under 134 at Bay Colony Golf Club.

Hugh Baiocchi, Graham Marsh and Vicente Fernandez were next at 136.

Doyle, who became the PGA Tour’s oldest rookie in 1996 at 47, is aiming for his first victory since the 1995 Nike Tour Championship.