CLIFTON, N.J. – Instead of backing down against the No. 1 player in women’s golf, Sarah Lee went birdie for birdie with Lorena Ochoa and got the best of her.

The 28-year-old South Korean, however, will have to do it again if she wants to win her first LPGA Tour title.

Lee shot a near-flawless 7-under 65 on Saturday to open a two-shot lead over Ochoa after three rounds in the $1.4 million Sybase Classic, a tournament that has been seemingly been reduced to two-player race.

No one else is even close to the leaders. “I’m really excited to play with Lorena Ochoa,” said Lee, whose previous best finish was a second in 2004. “She’s the No. 1 LPGA player and I really enjoyed it today.”

It was fun to watch, too. Lee and Ochoa combined for 13 birdies, an eagle and three bogeys, or a combined 12 under on a cold, rainy day when the average score at the par-72 Upper Montclair Country Club was 73.648.

Gilder frontrunner in Regions Charity

HOOVER, Ala. – Bob Gilder overcame back problems to take the second-round lead in the Regions Charity Classic, shooting a 6-under 66 on Saturday that included putts for eagle and birdie on two of the final three holes.

“When I walked out of my room this morning, I was thinking about withdrawing,” said the 56-year-old Gilder, a nine-time winner on the 50-and-over tour.

“My back went out on me. I was very skeptical about what was going to happen today.” But a morning visit to a chiropractor at the course fixed him up, and the late surge gave him a two-stroke lead over first-round leader Scott Hoch at 10-under 134.

Steve Ballesteros struggled again in his first Champions Tour start, following his opening 78 with an 81.

The five-time major winner was last in the 78-player field at 15 over – 25 strokes behind Gilder.

Imada, Matteson still share AT&T lead

DULUTH, Ga. – Ryuji Imada and Troy Matteson remained tied for the AT&T Classic lead on Saturday, shooting 3-under 69s at TPC Sugarloaf to take a two-stroke advantage over Camilo Villegas into the final round.

Imada, a former University of Georgia player, and Matteson, a former Georgia Tech star, had 13-under 203 totals. Villegas was 11 under after a 68, and Masters champion Zach Johnson (69), local favorite Matt Kuchar (64) and Lee Janzen (67) were 10 under.

Harrington extends lead at Irish Open

ADARE, Ireland – Padraig Harrington stretched his lead to three shots Saturday at the Irish Open, where is trying to become the first Irishman to win since John O’Leary in 1982.

Harrington shot a 1-under 71 to build on the one-stroke edge he had after the second round. He is at 4-under 212, three strokes ahead of Bradley Dredge of Wales and Simon Wakefield of England.

Dredge shot a 69 and was the only player to break 70. Wakefield, who played with Harrington, had a 73.

Richard Green of Australia and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa are at 216.