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Watney leads by two at Zurich Classic

NEW ORLEANS, April 21 (UPI) -- Nick Watney shot a 4-under 68 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

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Watney is at 12-under 204 after 54 holes.

Ken Duke, who had a 6-under 66 in the third round, moved into second place at 206.

Second-round leader Mark Calcavecchia shot even-par 72 Saturday. He is tied for third at 207 with Scott Gutschewski (67).

First-round leader Kyle Reifers is fifth at 208.

Watney turns 26 Tuesday.

"I'm excited for Sunday," said Watney, who won once on the Nationwide Tour, but is looking for his first PGA Tour crown.

Fifteen players, including four of the last five champions, have made this their inaugural win on tour.

"I feel comfortable, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself," said Watney. "I've still got a long way to go."

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Haas leads Legends by 1 after two rounds

SAVANNAH, Ga., April 21 (UPI) -- Jay Haas shot a 3-under 69 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the seniors Legends of Golf in Savannah, Ga.

Haas, the 53-year-old defending champion, was 7-under 137 after 36 holes, one stroke ahead of first-round leader Mark James (71), Brad Bryant (69) and Wayne Levi (68).

Tom Kite (71) and Loren Roberts (68) share fifth place at 5-under 139.

Roberts' 68 was his 37th straight round at par or better, to extend his tour record.

Hale Irwin, the 2004 champion, is tied for seventh with Tom Purtzer at 4-under 140. Gil Morgan, Dana Quigley, Scott Simpson and Craig Stadler are one stroke further back.


Williams sisters both win against Belgium

DELRAY BEACH, Fla., April 21 (UPI) -- Venus and Serena Williams won singles matches Saturday to put the United States up, 2-0, in the first-round of the Fed Cup against Belgium.

Venus won, 7-5, 6-2, over Kirsten Flipkens. Serena, the Australian Open and Miami champ, followed with a 6-1, 6-4, win against Caroline Maes.

The Belgians were last year's Fed Cup runner-up to Italy, but are playing this weekend without their top stars, Justine Henin or Kim Clijsters.

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Henin is the top-ranked women's player in the world, while Clijsters is ranked fourth.

The United States has won 17 Fed Cup titles to Belgium's one. The Americans last won the title in 2000 and last made the final in 2003 against France.

The winner this weekend will have a semifinal match-up against either Russia or Spain in July.


Italy, Russia, France open big leads

CASTELLANETA MARINA, Italy, April 21 (UPI) -- Defending champion Italy, Russia and France each won two singles matches Saturday to grab commanding leads in their first-round ties of women's Fed Cup.

The Italians, winners last year for the first time, opened a 2-0 lead against China with victories by Tathiana Garbin and Flavia Pennetta at Castellaneta Marina, Italy.

Russia, which won the Fed Cup title in 2004 and 2005, took a 2-0 lead over Spain with wins by Nadia Petrova and Svetlana Kuznetsova at Moscow.

France, the 2003 champion, took a 2-0 edge against Japan after victories by Nathalie Dechy and Tatiana Golovin at Limoges, France.

Italy, Russia and France can each clinch their best-of-five tie Sunday with one victory in either of the two reverse singles matches or the doubles finale.

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