The Associated Press

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Tim Herron, the roly-poly golfer who has discovered a superb touch on the greens, shot a 7-under-par 65 Saturday to open a four-stroke lead in the Bob Hope Classic.

Herron, coming off a 61 a day earlier, went to 29 under through four rounds of the five-day tournament. His 259 total tied the 72-hole Hope record set two years ago by Joe Durant, who went on to win at 36-under 324, a PGA Tour record for a 90-hole event.

Jay Haas, the 1988 Hope champion, and Canada's Mike Weir were tied for second at 263. The 49-year-old Haas, who had his own 61 during the second round, shot a 68. Weir had a 67.

David Gossett and Chris DiMarco both had 66s and were five shots off the lead. Stephen Ames, tied with Herron for the third-round lead, had a 71 that dropped him six shots back.

HEINEKEN CLASSIC

Nick Faldo, 45, moved into position for his first victory since 1997, shooting a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead at Melbourne, Australia.

The Englishman, a six-time major champion, had an 11-under 205 total on the Royal Melbourne course. Australia's Peter Lonard (67), Sweden's Niclas Fasth (68) and England's Paul Casey (74) were tied for second.

"It will be great to go out and show them that there's still plenty of the old Faldo in me," said Faldo, winless since the PGA Tour's 1997 Nissan Open. "I'll go and do the best job I can."

MASTERCARD CHAMPIONSHIP

Fuzzy Zoeller matched the course record with a 9-under 63 to take a share of the second-round lead at Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii.

Zoeller had an eagle and four straight birdies on the back nine to tie Larry Nelson and first-round co-leader Dana Quigley at 13-under 131 in the season-opening event.