LOCH LOMOND, Scotland, 13 July 2003 — Ernie Els stayed on course yesterday for his fifth title of the year, firing a four-under-par 67 to forge five clear of the field in the Scottish Open third round.

The British Open champion, following opening scores of 64 and 67, mixed five birdies with a bogey in calm but overcast conditions at par-71 Loch Lomond, finishing at 15-under 198. Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke fired a six-birdie 64 to climb to second place at 10-under 203, level with Britain’s Phillip Price, Els’s playing partner on the day, who returned a 68.

South African Els picked up shots at the third and ninth to reach the turn in two-under 34, at that point still four ahead of the chasing pack. Further birdies followed at the 345-yard 14th, where he drove the green, and at 15, but the world number two then dropped his only shot of the day at the par-four 16th, where he missed the green with his approach.

However, he bounced back with a fifth birdie at the last to stay on track for his second Scottish Open title, his first coming at the same venue in 2000.

Clarke, who played with Els for the first two days, was delighted with his ball-striking.

Earlier, 1992 champion Peter O’Malley fired a flawless nine-under-par 62 to rocket up the leaderboard at eight-under 205, having begun the day 12 strokes behind Els.

However his score, which equaled his career-low round set at the 1992 Scottish Open at Gleneagles, will not officially match the course record fired by Retief Goosen in 1997 as preferred lies were in operation for the second successive day.

Former world number two Phil Mickelson, one of the early starters, also threatened to shoot a low score with four birdies in his first six holes. But the left-handed American faded after that, his one-under-par 70 leaving him at one-over 214.

Blake Clings to One-Shot

Lead at Milwaukee Open

Jay Don Blake should feel fortunate that he got into the clubhouse early.

Seeking his first victory in 12 years, Blake carded a two-under-par 68 on Friday in swirling winds of 30 miles per hour to hold on to his one-shot lead midway through the 3.5 million-dollar Milwaukee Open.

Blake, who carded a 29 on the front during Thursday’s round of 64, completed 36 holes at eight-under 132. His only previous win came at the Shearson Lehman Brothers Open in 1991. While a number of players are close, nobody could catch Blake, who is just 192nd on the money list, making just $55,578 in 14 starts.

Patrick Sheehan signed for a five-under 65 and is tied for second with Jerry Kelly and Brett Quigley, who shot 67s. Seven players are another two shots back, including Loren Roberts, a two-time winner of this event and Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama, who won here in 2001.

The 40-something winners at the Milwaukee Open include Roberts (1996, 2000), Scott Hoch (1997) and Jeff Sluman (1998, 2002).

Daniel Grabs One-Shot

Lead at Canadian Open

In Vancouver, Canada, Beth Daniel played another consistent round on Friday to hold a one-shot lead after the second round of the $1.3 million Canadian Women’s Open.

Daniel carded a three-under-par 69 for the second straight day, moving to 138 at the Point Grey Golf and Country Club. She gained sole possession of lead with a birdie putt on the par-five 18th.

Being in contention is nothing new for Daniel, who has four top-10 finishes in 10 events this season. She has placed in the top five in each of her last two events but still is looking for her first win of the year.

Despite having the lead, Daniel is not concerning herself with the leaderboard until today’s final round.

Surprising Janice Moodie, who has struggled this year, signed for a 68 and is lurking one shot behind Daniel. The Scotland native has missed the cut in four of her last five events and has not placed higher than 18th in 13 tournaments this year.

This event lost some of its luster during Thursday’s opening round, when superstar Annika Sorenstam withdrew due to illness.