PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) – Chad Campbell’s 5-under 67 was barely enough to keep him in front Saturday in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, with Scott Verplank’s 64 moving him within one shot of the lead.

Campbell kept up his steady play, with six birdies and a lone bogey at the new Classic Club at Northstar to go to 24-under 264 through four days of the 90-hole tournament.

Verplank crafted his 8-under round at Bermuda Dunes Country Club, one of four courses used for the first four days of the tournament.

A pro-am for the first 72 holes, the 70 low-scoring pros and ties play the final round at the Classic Club.

John Senden was alone in third after a 67 at Bermuda Dunes left him at 20 under. Lurking another two shots back was two-time Hope champion Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson, the winner in 2002 and 2004, shot a 67 at Bermuda Dunes to go to 18 under, six strokes off the pace. Making his season debut in the Hope, Mickelson was tied for fourth with Justin Rose, who had a 66.

Mike Weir, who won the tournament in 2003, was another shot behind after a 66. Still another former Hope champion, 2000 winner Jesper Parnevik, vaulted into contention with a 10-under 62 at the Classic Course and was with Weir in a group at 17 under.

Rory Sabbatini and Jeff Maggert had 64s to join them at 271, along with Olin Browne (66) and John Huston (67).

Campbell birdied four holes on the front nine to make the turn at 32, but a bogey on No. 11 seemed to throw him off stride and he shot a 35 on the back nine. On the 11th, he hit a 6-iron long, then left himself a 15-footer for par and missed it for the bogey, only his second of the tournament.

Verplank, meanwhile, was whittling away at Campbell’s lead.

He rolled in five birdie putts on the front nine to make the turn with a 31, then kept it going with birdies on the first two holes on the back side. With Campbell already finished for the day, Verplank sank a 3-foot birdie putt on No. 14 to go to 23 under, then bogeyed No. 17 when he hit into the bunker in front of the green and missed a 15-footer for par. He got that stroke back when he chipped within a foot on No. 18.

Both Verplank and Campbell are trying to end winless strings. Verplank hasn’t won since the 2001 Canadian Open, and Campbell is looking for his first victory since the 2004 Bay Hill Invitational.

Notes: David Duval shot an 8-under 64 to go to 8 under for the tournament and make his second consecutive cut of the season, one more than he made in all of 2005. But for a 78 on the second day, he would be in contention. … When Mickelson takes time off from golf during the winter, he takes to the slopes. Among his family time this past winter was taking daughters Amanda, 6, and Sophia, 4, skiing in Beaver Creek, Colo. “It was great. We came right after two weeks of snow,” he said. “It was perfect.” … There was a 15-minute frost delay at La Quinta Country Club and PGA West before the start of Saturday’s play. .. Among those not making the cut, at 7 under, were Davis Love III, who was 2 under, and Sean O’Hair, who was 1 under after a fourth-round 78.

Stenson shoots 62, leads in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Sweden’s Henrik Stenson shot a course-record 10-under-par 62 Saturday and took a one-stroke lead over Chris DiMarco in the third round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Stenson was at 16-under 200 but unable to shake the rest of the field. DiMarco carded a 63 and was at 201 entering the final round while Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez had a 64 for 202.

Two more players were just three behind – Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez (67) and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel (68).

Spain’s Sergio Garcia (65) was four behind and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (65) was five behind.

Stenson, who is based in neighboring Dubai, began with five straight birdies and added two eagles to his round. Saturday’s 62 capped two opening rounds of 69.

“It’s been a funny week,” said Stenson, who is nursing a minor back injury and had a stomach ailment Friday. “I come and shoot this score today, so it was wonderful. Maybe I should keep this bug.”

DiMarco’s wife, Amy, carried his bag Saturday.

“I feel like I slow down a lot more with her, which is great because my biggest problem is that I get too fast,” he said. “I went out and continued hitting great shots and I’m very excited with what I shot.”

AP-ES-01-21-06 1218EST