Australian veteran Karrie Webb punched out of a greenside bunker for a birdie on her final hole as she stared down her challengers at the HSBC Women’s Champions yesterday.
The 39-year-old veteran displayed nerves of steel as she escaped from the bunker and then drained a 5-foot pressure putt in front of the large gallery to maintain a one-shot lead in Singapore.
Her two-under-par 70 gave her an aggregate score of 11-under 205, one ahead of fellow former winner Angela Stanford, with Spain’s Azahara Munoz and Taiwan’s Teresa Lu a further two shots back at the Sentosa Golf Club.
Photo: AFP
“The birdie on the last was important for me, for momentum,” Webb said. “Whether I had made my putt or not I would have still been tied for the putt at worst, but just momentum-wise, I hit a really good shot off the tee there. My bunker shot wasn’t as great as I would have liked, but I hit a very confident putt, which gives me good feelings going into tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Suzann Pettersen’s chances of seizing the world No. 1 ranking this week looked slim after two late bogeys left her with a 70, six shots off the lead.
Inbee Park scored 71 to be eight shots adrift, while newly professional New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko, 16, fell out of the reckoning with a 73.
Taiwanese player Yani Tseng hit a 74 yesterday and was tied for 33rd with a total of 218, while Candie Kung was further off the pace with a 77 for a total of 224 and a share of 53rd.
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