Allenby, Palmer tied for lead at Sony Open

Robert Allenby and Ryan Palmer avoided bogeys on a windy day at Waialae in Honolulu and made enough birdies Saturday to share the lead at the Sony Open and give themselves a small cushion over a crowded leaderboard.

Neither was spectacular, although they didn't need to be. With no one making a move, Allenby made 3 birdies inside 4 feet for a 3-under 67 and his first time atop the leaderboard through three rounds on the PGA Tour in more than six years.

Palmer, who started with a 1-shot lead, 2-putted from long range on the last two holes - one for par, the other for birdie - for a 68 to catch the Australian. They were at 11-under 199, 3 shots clear of Davis Love III (68), Troy Matteson (68), Steve Stricker (69) and defending champion Zach Johnson (70). Five more players were another shot back.

Champions Skins Game: Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson took the first seven skins worth $220,000 to build a big lead after nine holes of the Champions Skins Game at Kannapali, Hawaii. The 2007 champions and Hall of Fame duo set the pace early with birdies on five of the first seven holes. With the first four skins carrying over to the par-4 fifth, Nicklaus hit an aggressive wedge from 115 yards to 3 feet. Watson dropped the birdie putt to capture five skins and $150,000. Two holes later, Watson drained a 10-foot downhill birdie putt for two more skins worth $70,000. Just as impressive was how he persuaded Nicklaus to switch from a 6-iron to a 5-iron on the approach.

Fred Couples, making his Champions Tour debut, and Nick Price were in second place with one skin worth $40,000.