Honolulu's Michelle Wie faltered on her last four holes yesterday with three bogeys and a double-bogey en route to a 5-over-par 77 in the third round of the LPGA State Farm Classic at Springfield, Ill.

Wie, who started the day four shots back of the lead, shot her way out of contention and was tied for 62nd at 1-under 215 entering today's final round. Cristie Kerr (66) and Kristy McPherson (69) were the co-leaders at 12-under 204.

Playing in windy conditions, Wie, a Punahou School alum and Stanford sophomore, had four bogeys and two birdies on the front nine to make the turn at 2 over. She got back to even par with birdies on 10 and 11, both par-4s. But after parring three consecutive holes, she bogeyed the par-4 15th and the par-5 16th, double-bogeyed the par-3 17th, and finished with a bogey on the par-4 18th.

Kerr, also four strokes back after the second round, made the biggest jump of the day despite bogeying two of the final three holes. McPherson also stumbled at the end, bogeying her final two holes, and that left them tied at 12-under 204 heading into the last round in the final tuneup for the LPGA Championship next week at Bulle Rock.

"I did a lot of things right," said Kerr, a 12-time tour winner.

Jiyai Shin (69) was a shot behind. Second-round co-leaders Se Ri Pak (72) and Suzann Pettersen (72) were part of a crowd at 10 under.

ELSEWHERE

The Memorial: Matt Bettencourt ran off four straight birdies on the slick greens of Muirfield Village, survived a few scary moments on the back nine and wound up with a 4-under 68 for a share of the lead in the Memorial at Dublin, Ohio.

Two-time tour winner Mark Wilson had a 69 to match Wilson at 9-under 207. Jim Furyk steadied himself for a 71 and was one shot behind with Jonathan Byrd (71).

Tiger Woods climbed into contention on the back nine and shot a 68, leaving him four shots behind.

Triton Financial Classic: Bernhard Langer shot a 3-under 69 to maintain a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Champions Tour's Triton Financial Classic at Lakeway, Texas.

The German star, a two-time winner this year on the Champions Tour, had a 10-under 134 total on The Hills Country Club course. Gene Jones (66) was second at 135, while Jeff Sluman (69) and Mark O'Meara (69) were at 137.

Wales Open: England's Nick Dougherty eagled the par-5 18th for a 1-under 70 and a share of the Wales Open during the rain-delayed third round at Newport, Wales.

Denmark's Jeppe Huldahl (68) and Spain's Ignacio Garrido (71) matched Dougherty at 5-under 208 on The Twenty Ten Course, the site of the 2010 Ryder Cup matches.