Golf-Clark and Marino share early Colonial lead

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 31 (Reuters) - The Colonial Invitational was heading for a tight finish with South African Tim Clark and American Steve Marino tied for the lead midway through Sunday's final round.

In pursuit of their first victories on the PGA Tour, Clark and Marino were deadlocked at 17 under par after nine holes, two shots ahead of American Steve Stricker and Australian Jason Day.

British world number three Paul Casey, the highest-ranked player in a strong field at Colonial Country Club, was a further stroke back at 14 under with eight holes to play.

Clark, two ahead of the chasing pack overnight, briefly forged three ahead before slipping back with bogeys at the third and fifth.

Stricker also grabbed the outright lead with back-to-back birdies from the fifth but he dropped shots at the seventh and eighth, where he three-putted from long range.

The big-hitting Marino, who fired a best-of-the-week 62 on Saturday, made his move with birdies on five and six to edge one ahead.

But Clark regained a share of the lead by sinking a five-foot birdie putt at the seventh and parred the next two holes to reach the turn level with Marino. (Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)