DUBLIN (Ohio), June 5: American David Toms reeled off an ace, an eagle and four birdies in a flawless eight-under-par 64 as he moved into a four-way tie for the lead in the Memorial tournament third round in Dublin, Ohio on Saturday. Toms made a blistering start at the Muirfield Village Golf Club before finishing on 12-under 204. Four birdies and a hole-in-one at the par-three fourth got him to six under for the day on the front nine.

The 2001 US PGA champion had eight pars after the turn but an eagle at the par-five 15th left him in a share of the lead with compatriots Jeff Sluman, Fred Couples and Bart Bryant.

Overnight leader Sluman carded a four-under-par 68 while 1992 US Masters champion Couples and Bryant both returned 66s.

Lurking one stroke off the lead at 11 under were Woody Austin (65) and Jonathan Kaye (68) with Australian Peter Lonard a further shot back in seventh after a 67.

Three-time winner Tiger Woods, playing for the first time since his record run of 142 consecutive PGA Tour cuts ended at the Byron Nelson Championship three weeks ago, carded a 71 for a share of 10th place at eight under.

Leading third round scores:

204 — David Toms (US) 70, 70, 64; Fred Couples (US) 71, 67, 66; Bart Bryant (US) 69, 69, 66; Jeff Sluman (US) 65, 71, 68.

205 — Woody Austin (US) 67, 73, 65; Jonathan Kaye (US) 67, 70, 68.

206 — Peter Lonard (Australia) 71, 68, 67.

207 — Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 70, 71, 66; Nick O’Hern (Australia) 67, 70, 70.

208 — Scott Verplank (US) 75, 66, 67; Adam Scott (Australia) 67, 73 68; Richard Green (Australia) 67, 72, 69; Bo Van Pelt (US) 67, 72, 69; Tiger Woods (US) 69, 68, 71.

209 — Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 71, 73, 65; Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 66, 74, 69.

210 — Jim Furyk (US) 73, 73, 64; Billy Mayfair (US) 72, 70, 68; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 69, 72, 69; Jerry Kelly (US) 70, 71, 69; Jay Haas (US) 69, 70, 71; Harrison Frazar (US) 69, 68 73; Lucas Glover (US) 67, 70, 73.

WOOSNAM IN HUNT

NEWPORT (Wales): Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam battled into contention for his first European Tour title in eight years with a one-under-par 68 in the Wales Open third round on Saturday.

On a windy, squally day, the 47-year-old Briton finished only a stroke behind leader Alessandro Tadini of Italy, who shot a 72.

Tadini, looking for his first win after a second place at last year’s Aa St Omer Open, had a see-saw start, bogeying the first and double-bogeying the third, with a birdie in between, to see his two-shot overnight lead disappear.

Two Spaniards, Ryder Cup player Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Manuel Lara, and Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin, with equally enigmatic rounds, share second place with Woosnam.

Leading third round scores:

199 — Alessandro Tadini (Italy) 65, 62, 72.

200 — Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 63, 67, 70; Jose Manuel Lara (Spain) 68, 65, 67; Jean-Francois Lucquin (France) 65, 66, 69; Ian Woosnam (Britain) 64, 68, 68.

201 — David Lynn (Britain) 63, 66, 72.

202 — Nick Dougherty (Britain) 65, 72, 65; Joakim Haeggman (Sweden) 68, 66, 68; James Heath (Britain) 63, 69, 70; Jose-Filipe Lima (Portugal) 65, 70, 67; Terry Price (Australia) 70, 67, 65.

203 — Francois Delamontagne (France) 66, 66, 71; Martin Erlandsson (Sweden) 69, 65, 69; Raphael Jacquelin (France) 67, 66, 70; Gary Orr (Britain) 66, 70, 67; Oliver Wilson (Britain) 67, 67, 69.

204 — Jamie Donaldson (Britain) 67, 68, 69; Bradley Dredge (Britain) 69, 68, 67; Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 68, 69, 67; Jan-Are Larsen (Norway) 67, 68, 69; Paul Lawrie (Britain) 67, 68, 69; Ben Mason (Britain) 67, 67, 70; Jarmo Sandelin (Sweden) 68, 67, 69; Anthony Wall (Britain) 70, 68, 66.—Reuters