Clarke moves into contention at Riviera

Digest/US TOUR : Darren Clarke fired a three-under-par 68 in the much-delayed second round of the Nissan Open at Riviera Country…

Digest/US TOUR: Darren Clarke fired a three-under-par 68 in the much-delayed second round of the Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club in California to move to eight-under-par 134 for a share of third place yesterday.

Clarke was one shot behind joint leaders Adam Scott of Australia, who shot a 66 yesterday to move alongside Chad Campbell, who had completed his second round on Friday.

The organisers of the event have reduced the tournament to 54 holes. Some players were to begin their third round yesterday, while the tournament will be completed today.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Former European Ryder Cup captain Mark James fired a closing six-under-par 66 to capture the ACE Group Classic in Naples, Florida, yesterday.

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The Englishman finished on 13-under-par 203 to win by two shots from American pair Tom Wargo, who also shot a 66, and Hale Irwin, who shot a 68.

Des Smyth, who started the day on three under par and tied for 16th place, leapt up the leaderboard with a five-under-par 67 to be in joint eighth place on 208.

Smyth's round included three birdies in the first four holes and an eagle three at the 16th.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Kevin Haefner of the US was two-under-par on his back nine to capture the Panama Masters at the Summit Resort in Panama City yesterday.

Haefner carded 72 to finish on eight-under-par 276 on his way to the first victory of his professional career. England's James Hepworth finished two strokes back, after carding 68 on the last round of this co-sanctioned event between the Tour de las Americas and the European Challenge Tour.

Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey closed with a two-under-par 69, the third best round of the day, to finish tied for 25th on three over par.

Colm Moriarty slipped to a 74 that included three bogeys and a double bogey to finish on seven over par and tied for 38th.

SUNSHINE TOUR: European Tour number one Charl Schwartzel of South Africa took second place behind his fellow countryman, Warren Abery, at the Sunshine Tour's PGA Championship.

There was a strong showing of European Tour Members on the final leaderboard. Titch Moore of South Africa took seventh place on 10 under par, with Zimbabwe's Marc Cayeux and South African Louis Oosthuizen finishing one behind Moore.

But it was Abery's day and no one could deny him the victory after four highly impressive sub-70 scores.