Watney's first within reach

Yet another potential first-time PGA Tour winner topped the third-round leaderboard in the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La.

Third-year tour player Nick Watney shot a 4-under 68 on Saturdayto reach 12 under and take a two-shot lead over another player whohas been seeking a maiden tour triumph for more than a decade, 38-year-old Ken Duke.

Duke shot a 66, the best round of the day in the tournament thathas had first-time winners in four of the last five years.

Mark Calcavecchia, who began the day with a one-shot lead,appeared to be bothered by his back and finished with an even-par72, leaving him tied for third with Scott Gutschewski (67) at 9under. Gutschewski is winless on the tour.

The 25-year-old Watney never has finished higher than fifth,which he did twice last year, at the Reno-Taho Open and FunaiClassic.

HAAS GOES ON THE DEFENSIVE

Defending champion Jay Haas shot a 3-under-par 69, giving him aone-stroke lead over Brad Bryant, Wayne Levi and Mark James enteringthe final round of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in Savannah,Ga.

Haas, seeking his second victory of the season, was at 7-under137 at The Club at Savannah Harbor. Haas, with nine wins on the PGATour and seven on the Champions Tour, never has successfullydefended a championship.

TENNIS

WILLIAMSES GIVE U.S. 2-0 LEAD

Wobbly in the wind and trailing in the first set, Venus Williamswas glad to have her younger sister standing by.

"Down that first set, it's comforting to know if anything goeswrong, Serena Williams is going to play the second match," Venussaid.

Venus rallied to win, and Serena completed a sibling sweep,leaving the U.S. Fed Cup team on the verge of beating Belgium.

Playing Fed Cup for the first time since 2003, Serena beatCaroline Maes 6-1, 6-4 to give the Americans a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five opening-round match in Delray Beach, Fla.

Venus struggled early in her 7-5, 6-2 triumph over KirstenFlipkens.

FEDERER GETS ANOTHER SHOT

Roger Federer gets a fifth chance to beat Rafael Nadal on claywhen the world's top two players meet for the second straight yearin the Monte Carlo Masters final.

Both players reached today's final without dropping a set.Federer downed Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-4, and Nadal followed bybeating 10th-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-0, 7-5 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Federer has lost four straight times to the second-ranked Nadalon clay, including finals last year at Monte Carlo, the Rome Mastersand the French Open.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

REPORT: MAJERUS TALKS TO ST. LOUIS

Saint Louis met with former Utah coach Rick Majerus but

didn't offer him the head-coaching position, ESPN.com reported.

Sandy Montag of IMG said Majerus will spend the next 24 to 48hours deciding if he wants to return to coaching. Majerus currentlyis an ESPN analyst.