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Appleby Up, Woods Out of It

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From Associated Press

Stuart Appleby zoomed into the Bay Hill Invitational lead with four consecutive birdies, then pulled away from Chad Campbell on the back nine to take command Saturday with a six-under-par 66, putting the Aussie in good position to become the first multiple winner on the PGA Tour this year.

Appleby, who won the season-opening Mercedes Championships at Kapalua, was at 16-under 200 and had a four-shot lead over Campbell (70), the only American among the top five on the leaderboard at Orlando, Fla.

For the first time in five years at Bay Hill, Tiger Woods was not on top -- not even close.

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Trying to become the first player to win the same tournament five years in a row, Woods had another double bogey early in his round and stumbled to a second consecutive 74, leaving him 15 shots out of the lead.

“Hey, I tried my best,” Woods said. “It’s not going to happen.”

Adam Scott closed with three birdies for a 68, leaving him six shots behind at 10-under 206.

Shigeki Maruyama started Saturday with a two-shot lead, but that didn’t last long. The Japanese star failed to make a birdie, and his lead was gone by the time he stepped on the sixth tee. He shot 75 and was seven shots out of the lead.

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Annika Sorenstam chipped in from 60 feet for an eagle on the second hole, then finished the third round with a pair of birdies for a four-under 68 and a two-shot lead in the Safeway International.

Sorenstam, making her LPGA season debut, was at 16-under 200 at Superstition Mountain, Ariz.

“I’m definitely in a spot where I want to be,” Sorenstam said. “I’ve got to play well tomorrow, but leading going into the last day is what you want. Hopefully I’ll shoot in the 60s tomorrow and feel really good.”

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Nineteen-year-old tour rookie Shi Hyun Ahn shot a 66 and was two strokes back at 202 on the 6,620-yard layout at the Superstition Mountain Golf Club.

Michelle Wie, the 14-year-old sensation, shot a 70 and was nine shots behind.

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