HARRISON, N.Y. – Loren Roberts left the kids behind in the Buick Classic.

The 49-year-old Roberts shot a 7-under 64 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Cameron Beckman and Rory Sabbatini into the final round.

“Hopefully, I’ve still got some competitive fire in me,” Roberts said. “I still think there’s some golf courses out here on tour that I can compete on, and I think this is one of them.”

Roberts – called the “Boss of the Moss” because of his brilliant putting touch – has five top-10 finishes in 18 starts on the hilly, tree-lined Westchester Country Club course – including a second-place tie in 2002.

“I’ve always loved this golf course,” the eight-time tour winner said. “I just love old-style traditional courses. This is one of the finest that we play.”

He played the back nine in 5-under 30 for his best round of the season, closing with two birdies to top the leaderboard at 12 under in the final PGA Tour event before the U.S. Open next week at Shinnecock Hills.

“I really got just about everything out of my round that I could have gotten,” Roberts said. “Obviously, I had a great round. It would be great to dial up another one tomorrow, but for heaven’s sake, we’ll just see what happens tomorrow.”

Sabbatini shot a 65, and Beckman birdied the final five holes for a 66.

“I had three chip-ins in the last five holes,” Beckman said. “I wasn’t doing much and birdied the last five holes, so it was nice.”

Tom Byrum (68) and Luke Donald (70) were 10 under, two-time Westchester winner Vijay Singh (71) and Padraig Harrington (68) were another stroke back, and 2001 winner Sergio Garcia (68) was 8 under.

Fred Couples, the second-round leader at 10 under after rounds of 67 and 65, shot a 74 to join Masters champion Phil Mickelson (69) in a five-player group at 7 under. Couples had five bogeys and an eagle – a 60-foot bunker shot on the par-5 fifth.

It took the leaders nearly five hours to play the round with nearly all the players reaching the par 5s in two and many trying to drive the two short par 4s.

“It was punishingly slow,” Roberts said. “I don’t know what happened, but from the fifth hole up until the ninth hole there were three groups on every hole.”

Sabbatini made five long birdies putts – three from more than 25 feet – and holed a 22-foot chip on the 17th in his long round.

“It’s always easier to tolerate things when you’re playing well,” the two-time tour winner said.

Because of the slow play, the players will play in threesomes in the final round with 11-minute intervals between groups. They played in twosomes Saturday with eight- and nine-minute intervals.

“In all my years out here, I’ve never seen anything like this,” PGA Tour tournament director Slugger White said. “The ball is going so far. Somebody in every group is going for it. It just backs up and they can’t go anywhere.”

Sorenstam zeros in on seventh major

WILMINGTON, Del. – A day lost to rain. A marathon finish in the second major of the year. Annika Sorenstam in the lead and on top of her game.

One year later, not much has changed in the LPGA Championship.

Keeping her cool while missing a half-dozen good looks at birdie, Sorenstam broke loose with four straight birdies that carried her to a 4-under 67 in the second round Saturday and a one-shot lead over Juli Inkster and Jennifer Rosales.

Next up: A 36-hole finish to make up for lost time in the rain-delayed tournament.

That’s old news for Sorenstam.

“I don’t mind,” she said. “Last year, I had played 34. This will be two more. I hope I can handle it.”

The way Sorenstam is playing, it could be a long day for those chasing her.

Inkster, who made up a two-shot deficit against Sorenstam to win the U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes two years ago, also found a groove with her swing and started to fearlessly fire at flags. She shot a 5-under 66, polishing off her round with a big drive and a 7-wood to the front edge of the par-5 ninth.

Inkster played with Rosales, who recovered from two bogeys on her first three holes to shoot 70.

If a comeback is available, who better than Reilley Rankin? The LPGA Tour rookie, who was seriously injured taking a 70-foot jump into a lake five years ago, had a 67 and was at 5-under 137.

“Every step means a lot to me, no matter what tournament it is,” Rankin said.

Grace Park, going after the second leg of the Grand Slam, had a 70 and was three shots behind.

Doyle leads Pate by one in Bayer Advantage

PARKVILLE, Mo. – Allen Doyle shot a 6-under 66 Saturday to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Bayer Advantage Celebrity Pro-Am.

Doyle made four birdies on the front nine and three on the back to move to 13 under. He is in position for his first Champions Tour victory of the season and his first since winning the Fleet Boston Classic in August.

Doyle had a bogey-free round until the 17th, but got the stroke back with a birdie at No. 18 for a one-shot lead over Jerry Pate, who matched the course record with a 7-under 65.