British pair back on course

Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie regained their form in the third round of the BellSouth Classic at Marietta, Georgia, yesterday.

The British pair, who both avoided the cut by just one shot on Saturday, both had four-under-par 68s to reclaim their confidence before the Masters, which starts on Thursday.

Saturday's disaster saw Montgomerie shoot a four-over-par 76 - his only round over par this year - while Woosnam was only one shot better off. Yesterday, however, both bounced back to stand at 215 - nine shots adrift of the American leader, David Duval. Sam Torrance hit a 74 for a 220.

Duval shot a 68 to take a two-shot lead over Tommy Tolles, who hit a 69, while Paul Strankowski is one further adrift after a 68. Ernie Els, of South Africa, also rediscovered his touch and had a 66 after a level par 72 in the second round and lies seven off the lead.

Laura Davies also showed her powers of recovery when she shot a 68 at the Twelve Bridges LPGA Classic in Lincoln, California. Davies is still five off the lead, but had started the third round nine shots behind after scoring 74 on Saturday.

The half-way leader, Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, made two costly visits to the rough on the way to a 72 and was caught by the Americans Cindy Schreyer and Barb Mucha, who compiled a 68 and 69 to join her on 207.