Golf-Singh stays one ahead after tight battle with MacKenzie

KAPALUA, Hawaii, Jan 7 (Reuters) Vijay Singh holed a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-five ninth to stay one stroke clear midway through the Mercedes-Benz Championship third round.

The three-times major winner, who offset two birdies with two bogeys over the first eight holes, reached the turn in one-under 35 in breezy conditions at the Kapalua Resort yesterday.

That left him at nine under overall in the PGA Tour's season-opening event after a fluctuating battle for the lead with little-known American Will MacKenzie, who was alone in second place after nine holes.

South Africa's Trevor Immelman, one off the pace with MacKenzie overnight, was a further two shots back in third, also after nine holes.

Singh, runner-up at Kapalua twice in the last three years, stumbled early with a bogey at the treacherous 218-yard second, the most difficult par-three hole on last year's PGA Tour.

After finding the right greenside bunker off the tee, the Fijian came close to holing out with his second shot before missing from less than five feet to save par.

That left him at seven under, and briefly tied for the lead with playing partner Immelman.

The 32-year-old MacKenzie, who teed off in the penultimate pairing, was also at seven under before he bogeyed the par-four third after finding a greenside bunker with his approach.

BROKE CLEAR He then birdied the next two holes, however, to break clear of the pack.

He cleverly used the contours of the fourth green for his approach to end up seven feet from the pin before picking up another shot at the par-five fifth after reaching the green in two.

Shortly afterwards, Singh caught MacKenzie at eight under with a birdie at the 532-yard fifth, where he narrowly missed his eagle attempt from eight feet.

The Fijian's share of the lead was short-lived, though. He overshot the green with his approach at the par-four seventh and, despite getting a free drop for relief from a camera tower, failed to get up and down to save par.

MacKenzie, a professional kayaker who enjoys snowboarding, surfing and rock climbing, surrendered the outright lead when he missed a five-foot par putt at the eighth.

Although he immediately hit back with a birdie at the par-five ninth after hitting a superb second shot to within 13 feet of the flag, Singh again forged ahead when he birdied the same hole moments later.

American John Rollins fired a three-under-par 70 to hold the clubhouse lead at two-over 221.

This week's event launches the inaugural FedExCup, a season-long points competition culminating in a four-event playoff series with 10 million dollar to be won by the overall champion.

REUTERS SRS PM0801