Delaet Pumped And Primed For Strong Finish

Playing in his first event as PGA TOUR rookie after graduating from Qualifying School with full member status last month, the power-hitting Delaet cautiously carded birdies at the 3rd, 9th and 12th holes before giving two shots back with bogeys at 13 and 17. However, for the second day in a row he closed his round over the immaculate Waialae County Club Course on a windy day in Honolulu with a birdie at 18 for a 2-under par 68 to go with earlier scores of 69 and 67 and a 204 total.

Leading the way at 11-under par 199 are American Ryan Palmer (65-66-68) and Australian Robert Allenby (65-67-67).

Four players share third place at 202 and five are tied for 7th at 203, followed by Delaet and three others in 12th place at 204.

Tour veteran Stephen Ames of Calgary fell off the pace Saturday by shooting a 2-over par 72 and at 207 is now eight strokes behind the leaders in 33rd place.

Canada's other TOUR rookie, Chris Baryla of Vernon, BC missed the cut Friday after starting his 2010 season off with rounds of 70 and 75.

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Jack Nicklaus and partner Tom Watson took the first seven skins and collectively won $220,000 Saturday to build a big lead after nine holes in the Wendy's Champions Skins Game at Kaanapali, Hawaii. The legendary duo set the pace early with birdies on five of the first seven holes.

Fred Couples, who turned 50 in October and is making his Champions Tour debut, and Nick Price were in second place with one skin worth $40,000. Defending champions Fuzzy Zoeller and Ben Crenshaw, who earned a record $530,000 last year, have been shut out in this the alternate-shot event, as were 74-year-old Gary Player and Loren Roberts

Canadians

T12 Graham Delaet, Weyburn, SA 69 67 68 - 204
T33 Stephen Ames, Calgary, AB 68 67 72 - 207
cut Baryla, Vernon, BC 70 75 - 145