12 January 2004	Monday	19 Ziqa'ad 1424

KAPALUA, Jan 11: Australian Stuart Appleby regained the lead in the US PGA Tour's elite season opening Mercedes Championship on Saturday, opening a two-stroke edge over Fiji's Vijay Singh after three rounds.

Appleby, who led after the first round before surrendering the halfway advantage to Singh, popped his nose back in front with a seven-under-par 66 on Maui's Kapalua Plantation course.

Appleby birdied three of the final four holes for an impressive 54-hole total of 20-under 199. Singh struggled a little with his putter en route to a 69 that left him at 18-under 201.

South African Retief Goosen (64) was five shots back in third place, while Ulsterman Darren Clarke trailed by six after a 69 that included an eagle from 192 yards at the par-four 17th.

Tiger Woods carded a superb 65 but still left himself with a big mountain to climb, seven shots behind.

Leading scores:

Plantation Course. (U.S. unless stated):

199 Stuart Appleby (Australia) 66 67 66

201 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 68 64 69

204 Retief Goosen (South Africa) 70 70 64

205 Darren Clarke (Britain) 67 69 69

206 Tiger Woods 71 70 65

208 Scott Hoch 68 71 69, Kirk Triplett 68 69 71

209 Jim Furyk 70 71 68, Davis Love III 69 71 69

210 J.L. Lewis 70 71 69, Shaun Micheel 70 71 69, Jonathan Kaye 74 70 66

211 Adam Scott (Australia) 69 74 68, Ben Crane 71 74 66 .-AFP/Reuters