Golf: Gustafson powers four clear in Florida

Sweden's Sophie Gustafson doubled her overnight lead to four shots after a fine 70 in the third round of the LPGA Subaru Memorial of Naples in Florida.

On 14-under-par 202, the British Open Champion was nicely clear of world number one Karrie Webb and six ahead of joint third-placed Americans, Juli Inkster and Vicki Goetze-Ackerman.

Webb shot a joint best-of-day 68, a score matched by Britain's Laura Davies, who swept through the field to share the main British challenge with 1997 US Open Champion Alison Nicholas, who had a 69.

However, they are 10 off the lead on four under.

Gustafson, last year's European number one, had five birdies in the tough conditions - recovering from a double-bogey at the ninth with back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th to show her growing maturity.

But Webb, the women's version of Tiger Woods following a season in which she won nine times worldwide, will be a major threat.

The 26-year-old Australian is using a new Scottish caddie, Mike Paterson, this year, and she reckoned that the new partnership is beginning to work.

She finished outside the top 50 in last week's opening event of the season in Florida, but said: "Mike and I worked really well together today and it is beginning to feel more comfortable."

Gustafson will be hard to overtake though.

Strong and powerful, she said: "I like poor weather. It's good fun and I'm looking forward to playing with Webbie tomorrow."