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Pressel turns the heat up on Jamie Farr Classic leader

South Korean Hall of Famer Pak Se-ri saw her lead at the US$1.3 million Jamie Farr Classic dwindle to two strokes on Saturday as young American Morgan Pressel made a charge.

Pak, who led by five shots heading into the third round, posted a two-under 69, remaining atop the leaderboard at 13-under 200.

Pak, a four-time winner of this event who is seeking a 24th career LPGA title, looked to be in control after firing an opening-round 8-under 63, but teenager Pressel was looming large by the end of the day.

"I saw it a couple of times, yes," Pak said of the changing leaderboard.

"I know she [Pressel] got a pretty good round today. Must be she has a really hot putter, or I don't know what she had, but really, very, very surprised," she said.

Pressel, 19, nabbed eight birdies, including seven on the final 11 holes, en route to an impressive 64 to catapult into the second place at 11-under 202.

Pressel, whose only blemish was a bogey on the fifth hole, is looking to add to her victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

The bogey aside, Pressel was pleased with her putting.

"Well, I guess I just hit the ball pretty solid, closer to the hole, and I made some putts," Pressel said. "That's what you needed, especially on a day like today."

South Korean Kim In-kyung, who started the day tied for 14th, birdied her first seven holes en route to a six-under 65 for third place on 205.

"I was focusing on every shot; just hit the shot, next shot, thinking about the next one," she said.

Defending champion Kim Mi-hyun, who edged Natalie Gulbis on the third hole of a playoff in Sylvania last year, was tied for 24th at even after a 71.

American Cristie Kerr, coming off the biggest win of her career, was tied for 39th. Kerr won the US Women's Open two weeks ago.
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