Inbee Park shot a three-under 69 in windy conditions yesterday in the LPGA Taiwan Championship to increase her lead to four strokes.
Playing her first event since regaining the No. 1 spot in the world from Stacy Lewis on Monday, the South Korean newlywed had an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys at Miramar in wind gusting to about 48kph. In calm conditions the first two days, she shot 64-62 to take a three-stroke lead.
“It was quite different situation with the wind,” Park said. “It was playing a lot tougher. The downwind holes, it was tough to stop the ball on the green. We have quite tough holes out there, but I think I managed myself quite good.”
Park had a 21-under 195 total. She won the LPGA Championship in August for her second victory of the year and fifth major title. Last year, she swept the first three majors and won six times.
The second-ranked Lewis was tied for second with China’s Feng Shanshan.
Lewis birdied four of the last five holes for a bogey-free 64, the best round of the day.
The American has a tour-high three victories this season.
Feng had a 70.
Spain’s Azahara Munoz was fourth at 13-under after a 69, and South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon was another stroke back after a 68. Third-ranked Lydia Ko shot 71 to fall into a tie for sixth at 11-under. The 17-year-old New Zealander won the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters in December at Miramar.
Michelle Wie had a 72 to drop into a tie for 27th at six-under. Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, the winner the last two years at Sunrise, was another stroke back after a 74.
Taiwan’s Candie Kung shot a 70 for six-under 210 to share 27th place. Her compatriots Chien Pei-yun and Cheng Ssu-chia carded 69 and 75 respectively to tie for 33rd at five-under 211.
Taiwanese former world No. 1 Yani Tseng reasserted herself and fired a three-under to tie for 39th place. Tseng finished the day with four birdies and one bogey, scoring three-under 69 and a three-day total of four-under 212.
“I was not particularly good or bad today,” she said. “But my putt has improved, and I was lucky on several occasions, which enabled me to hit birdies.”
Tseng added that although her putting has improved, she still has to work on her wood club.
Tseng carded 69 in the first round, but had trouble in the next round. She not only broke a club, but ended the day as one of only 11 golfers in the 79-player field to shoot over par.
The US$2 million Fubon LPGA Championship is taking place at the Miramar Golf and Country Club in New Taipei City.
Additional reporting by staff writer
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
RSS