LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Scott Verplank was two shots behind with three holes to play yesterday, then surged into a share of the lead at the Children's Miracle Network simply by making pars.

Verplank, one of six players who had at least a share of the lead on a wild afternoon at Disney's Magnolia Course, wound up with a 71 and was tied with Stephen Ames going into a final round.

Ames, who had a two-shot lead at one point, bogeyed two of his last three holes with three-putts that measured 60 and 70 feet and settled for a 70.

"They're hard holes now, not that there's anything wrong with that," Verplank said after a 71. "But they don't fit the rest of the golf course because of that. Those are difficult holes just to make pars on. I can see that scenario becoming more common around here, versus having to birdie the last three holes."

Verplank and Ames were at 13-under 203, with Justin Leonard (70) and Tag Ridings (71) in the five-way tie for third at 204.

Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin, a Punahou alum, shot 72 and was six back at 209. McLachlin, currently 136th on the PGA money list, needs a top-5 finish today for a chance to move into the top 125 and retain full playing privileges for next season.

ELSEWHERE

Mizuno Classic: Laura Davies was penalized two strokes for putting from the wrong place, dropping the 44-year-old English star into a tie for the lead with Momoko Ueda in the Mizuno Classic at Shima, Japan.

The penalty led to a double bogey on the par-4 14th, and Davies settled for an even-par 72 and a tie with Ueda (67) at 7-under 137.

Volvo Masters: England's Justin Rose shot an even-par 71 for a 4-under 209 total and a four-stroke lead over European Order of Merit rival Padraig Harrington (71) and countryman Simon Dyson (71) after the third round of the Volvo Masters at Sotogrande, Spain.

Singapore Open: U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera shot a 1-under 70 for a 9-under 204 total and a four-stroke lead over American Jin Pak (72) entering the final round of Singapore Open.