South Korea’s Jee Young-lee fired a seven-under 65 Saturday to seize a one-shot lead after three rounds of the LPGA Championship, the second women’s major of the season.
Lee nabbed seven birdies and an eagle on the par-five 15th for a 54-hole total of 12-under 204 at the Bulle Rock course.
“I’ve been waiting to win a tournament ever since I came to the United States,” Lee said.
PHOTO: AP
“And to win the major tournament here would be really exciting for me. I’m really looking forward to Sunday,” she said.
Sweden’s Maria Hjorth was one stroke back after a 65 that saw her vault from a tie for 18th to second on 205.
World No.1 Lorena Ochoa and 10-time major winner Annika Sorenstam were tied for third, two shots adrift on 206.
“It’s going to so much fun being in the final group in the last round of a major,” Hjorth said.
“It’s going to be very exciting with both Lorena and Annika right up there,” she said.
American Laura Diaz, a two-time LPGA Tour winner was grouped with three others in fifth at 8-under 208, a group that included Australian Lindsey Wright (73).
Lee collected two birdies in her first four holes before a double-bogey at the par-four fifth sent her back to even par for the day.
The 22-year-old bounced back with three more birdies on the front nine. Her eagle at 15 saw her move within one shot of Hjorth, and a birdie at 16 gave Lee a share of the lead. She took sole possession of the lead with a birdie at the last.
Hjorth, 34, had seven birdies in her bogey-free round.
Ochoa, whose six victories this season include the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco in April, had two bogeys and a double-bogey against four birdies in an even-par 72.
She double-bogyed the par-three seventh, but her four birdies included two at par-three holes coming in the 12th and 17th.
Sorenstam carded three birdies on the front nine before adding another on 15 in a 68.
“I’m very happy with the way I’ve played all week,” Sorenstam said. “Today, I managed to hole a few more putts. Now, I just want to hole even more in the final round.”
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