Karrie Webb put herself in a strong position for a seventh ANZ Australian Ladies Masters title, shooting an eight-under 64 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead after three rounds.
The Australian’s total of 15-under 201 put her a shot ahead of compatriot and defending champion Katherine Hull (65) and South Korean Lee Bo-mee (63). Those three will be in today’s final group, pitching Hall of Famer Webb against the woman tipped to succeed her as Australia’s dominant female player.
Webb was in a fairway bunker on the final hole, but hit a six-iron cleanly out of the sand, over a tree and to the green and sank the putt.
PHOTO: EPA
Organizers said they were considering Lee’s 63 a course record because they changed two tee boxes this year, but a 62 shot by Australian Kristie Smith in the tournament last year is the lowest score shot on the course before it was lengthened slightly.
Two South Koreans were tied for fourth after shooting 66s — Seo Hee-kyung and Ryu So-yeon — on a Royal Pines resort course softened by rain and made easier by the lift, clean and place rule used in the first round.
Former US amateur star Amanda Blumenherst, who led after the first two rounds, shot 70 yesterday and was tied for sixth, four off the lead and level with Taiwan’s Yani Tseng (67).
Lim Ji-na, who was joint second-round leader with Blumenherst, shot 75 and was tied for 25th, nine shots behind Webb.
The six players who will make up the final two groups today accounted for 42 birdies and an eagle in the third round.
“I hit a great shot into the green there,” Webb said of her last-hole effort. “Anything on the green I was happy with. It was a great way to finish.”
“If you told me I would shoot 64 today, I would have thought I’d have at least a two-stroke lead, but it will make it exciting for tomorrow,” she said. “I’m just glad that I’m not three, four, five shots back going into tomorrow and having to shoot a low one to have a chance.”
She said her experience of winning six previous Masters titles will help her.
“I’ve made some good shots here before and great putts, and when you have those kinds of feelings, it makes you comfortable,” she said.
Hull was looking forward to playing in the final group with Webb for the first time on the last day.
“A lot of people out there will be waiting for this showdown,” Hull said. “It’s going to be a good battle tomorrow and a nice showcase for Australian golf.”
Lee, who has not had a bogey in three rounds, is playing at Royal Pines for the first time and only had two nine-hole practice rounds over two days because of heavy rain earlier in the week.
“My goal was to shoot 10-under for the tournament and with no bogeys,” Lee said. “The way I played today, it’s now possible I could win.”
■HONDA CLASSIC
REUTERS, MIAMI
Anthony Kim of the US fired a sparkling six-under 64 to grab a share of the lead with Colombia’s Camilo Villegas after the second round of the Honda Classic on Friday.
Kim notched seven birdies and a single bogey to share the day’s lowest round on a cool but calm day at the PGA National Champions course in Palm Beach Gardens.
“I’m very happy with the way I played the last two days, not just today,” Kim told reporters. “Hopefully I can stay on this path, my game is starting to show signs of life.”
Kim joined Villegas on an eight-under total of 132 after the in-form Colombian set an early target by returning a four-under 66 for the second straight day.
Former world No. 1 Vijay Singh finished one stroke adrift after shooting a 66.
The big Fijian had looked headed for a rough day after back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes, but played flawless golf the rest of day to sit alone on seven-under 133.
Singh, playing free of the back and knee pain that plagued him last season, was unlucky to miss a share of the lead after rolling in a monster 65-foot birdie putt on the 17th, but leaving a 12-foot birdie hanging on the lip on 18.
Jerry Kelly of the US is two off the pace after a five-under 65, while a group of five are three back, including overnight leader Nathan Green of Australia (70), Canada’s Mike Weir (64) and Briton Graeme McDowell, who was handed a costly penalty after his round.
After landing his tee shot on the 18th in shallow water, McDowell attempted to blast his ball out, but grazed the surface on his back swing. He informed officials and was penalized two strokes to leave him at three-under 67.
“It’s a two-shot penalty, so it’s a bit of a bitter-sweet end to the day ... It could have been Sunday and that would hurt a lot more, but I’ve got all weekend to repair the damage,” McDowell said.
Yang Yong-eun, who claimed his first PGA crown at last year’s tournament, saw his title defense end dismally when he missed the three-over cut by six shots.
The South Korean’s even-par 70 was not enough to recover from his horror opening round of 79.
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