SAN DIEGO — John Rollins caught up to Camilo Villegas again, and this time kept right on going until he finished off a 2-under-par 70 that gave him a three-shot lead Saturday in the Buick Invitational.
Rollins, who lost a share of the lead with a bogey on the final hole of the second round, made up for that quickly with two birdies in the first four holes to take the lead, surging ahead when Villegas struggled. The margin could have been even wider if not for three three-putt bogeys by Rollins over the final seven holes.
Rollins was at 12-under 204, his first outright lead going into the last round in his nine years on the PGA Tour. Villegas capped off an ugly front nine with a double bogey when his bunker shot sailed over the green, leaving him five shots behind. He steadied himself for a 2-over 74.
• Betty Jameson, one of the 13 founding members of the LPGA Tour, died in Boynton Beach, Fla. She was 89.
Friesan Fire wins Risen Star
NEW ORLEANS — Friesan Fire showed he was a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender with an impressive victory at the Grade 3, $200,000 Risen Star Stakes, the final prep for the Louisiana Derby.
• Pioneer of the Nile rallied from off the pace to win the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., and give trainer Bob Baffert a Derby candidate.
• Haynesfield moved a step closer to a Triple Crown race, easily winning the $107,600 Whirlaway Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.
Galaxy says not so fast
LOS ANGELES — The owner of the Los Angeles Galaxy said he’s rejected AC Milan’s initial offer for David Beckham and wants the Italian club to make a higher bid or the English midfielder will return to Los Angeles next month.
Footnotes.
Meb Keflezighi edged Tim Nelson at the finish to win the men’s title, and Emily Brown easily won the women’s race at the USA Cross Country Championships in Derwood, Md.
• Kelly Clark won the World Cup halfpipe snowboard event in Bardonecchia, Italy, to lead a U.S. sweep. Hannah Teiter was second, followed by Aspen’s Gretchen Bleiler. Mathieu Crepel of France won the men’s event.
• Felix Loch, a 19-year-old German, easily held off five-time world champion and two-time defending Olympic champion Armin Zoeggeler of Italy to win his second straight title at the luge world championships in Lake Placid, N.Y.
• Reliever George Sherrill and the Orioles agreed to terms on a $2.75 million, one-year contract and avoided arbitration.
• Nationals pitcher Shawn Hill won his salary arbitration case and will earn $775,000 in 2009.
• Favorites Jill Craybas of the U.S. and Gisela Dulko of Argentina won in straight sets to leave the countries tied 1-1 in their first-round Fed Cup competition in Surprise, Ariz.
• Undisputed super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan punished Jorge Arce from the opening bell on his way to an 11th-round knockout in Anaheim, Calif.
