Golf: Players tee off twice in one day

Paul Stankowski shot a six-under-par 66 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead over Michael Bradley and John Huston heading into the final day of the Honda Classic in Florida.

After Friday's round was washed out, Tour officials announced that the event would be shortened to 54 holes. But several hours later, the PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem, reversed the decision and so the tournament will conclude with a 36-hole finale, the last two rounds being played in one day.

Although 74 players made the cut at one under par, just the 64 at two under or better were chosen for the final day, so as to complete both rounds before darkness. The other 10 players received $3,015 (pounds 1,885) in prize- money.

Huston and Bradley both shot rounds of 65. Lee Janzen, Greg Kraft, and Doug Martin were another stroke back at nine under. Britain's Colin Montgomerie, who shot 68, was one of four players at eight under.

"Tomorrow will be a long day. It'll be an endurance test more than anything. I'm not much of a physical specimen. I don't really work out, so my cardiovascular is not in good shape," Stankowski admitted.

"I'm not looking forward to playing an all-day tournament, but I guess I'd better load up on pasta and pancakes and all the carbohydrates I can find."

Huston was not as concerned about the prospect of walking 36 holes. "Once you get into it, you don't think too much about it, especially if you've got a good rhythm going," he said.

However, the players agreed that it was a good decision to keep the event at 72 holes. "It's a golf tournament, isn't it?" Montgomerie asked. "A 54-hole victory is never what you're looking for, though obviously you'd take it, but it doesn't mean as much as when you win after 72 holes."