Ames eight shots off golf pace

MEMPHIS: Trinidad and Tobago’s Stephen Ames shot an improved round of 68 yesterday at the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee. Ames has so far had rounds of 68 and 71 over the first two days of the golf classic and is now eight shots off the pace with a total of 207 strokes. Sweden’s Richard Johnson shot a steady two-under 69 giving the PGA Tour rookie a one-stroke lead over David Toms after three rounds. Johnson, trying to win his first PGA Tour title in just his 14th start, had a 14-under 199 total. Toms birdied two of his final three holes for a 65. He will be looking for his second victory this year and ninth in his career. Tim Herron (65), Lee Janzen (67), Fredrik Jacobson (68) and David Peoples (70) were two strokes back. Ben Crane (64) was at 202, and Notah Begah (64) and third-round co-leader John Huston (73) were in a group at 203. Toms may be the person best suited to chase Johnson today. He won at Wachovia in May and tied for fifth in the US Open two weeks ago. He started the round at seven under and birdied four of his first five holes. He had 10 straight pars before he birdied the par-5, 528-yard 16th and the par-4 17th. On No. 17, Toms hit a pitching wedge 145 yards from the rough to inches of the hole.