Appleby quick off the Merc

Stuart Appleby had a third successive Mercedes Championship title in his sights after yet another battle with the wind in Hawaii.

For the second day running not one of the 28-strong field – all champions from last year’s US Tour – could shoot in the sixties. But Appleby’s three- under-par 70 gave him a 54-hole total of six under and left him two ahead of US Open champion Michael Campbell and three clear of Jim Furyk.