Korea’s Kim takes two-shot lead
Song-Hee Kim carded a three-under par 68 Saturday to take a two-shot
lead over Angela Stanford going into the final round of the 1.8
million-dollar LPGA event at Pinnacle Country Club. South Korea’s Kim
had a nine-under total of 133 after two rounds of the 54-hole event,
while Stanford’s 69 put her at 135.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng posted her second straight 68 to lead a trio on
136, which also included Na Yeon Choi (65) and Sun Young Yoo (67) of
South Korea.
Kim survived some erratic work off the tee, hitting only six of 13
fairways.
But the 21-year-old still managed to put herself in good position to
claim a first US LPGA Tour victory.
“I had to be patient today,” she said. “I made a lot of up-and-downs,
and I made a lot of good par putts.” Kim is six-under on the par-fives
in the first two rounds, and she was eager for the final round.
“I cannot wait to play tomorrow,” she said.
Germany’s Sandra Gal was the first-round leader at seven-under, but
ballooned to a 76. Stanford started strong this season with a victory at
the SBS Open. But in June she announced that her mother had been
diagnosed with breast cancer. With her mother undergoing chemotherapy,
Stanford finished tied for 49th in her next tournament.
She missed the cut at the US Women’s Open and finished tied for 52nd
at the Evian Masters.
Stanford’s mother was able to make the trip to Illinois to see her
daughter play in the Solheim Cup, and since then Stanford has nabbed two
top-10 finishes.
“I really thought I was going to handle it better, and I didn’t right
off the bat,” Stanford said. “Now, it is a new normal. ...
“We know what’s going to happen, and we know it’s going to be a good
end. So that makes it a lot easier.”
Jane Park posted a 7 and her five-under put her within range,
especially if she can emulate her last-round 62 of last year.
That saw her finish one shot behind Seon Hwa Lee.
Lee posted a 68 that left her at even par and unlikely to repeat.
Other notables to make the cut included Cristie Kerr (70) and Michelle
Wie (70), who were three-under.
AFP |
