American Morgan Pressel shot a two-under-par 69 to cling to a one-stroke lead over fast-closing Swede Anna Nordqvist heading into yesterday’s final round of the Shoprite LPGA Classic in Galloway, New Jersey.
Taiwan’s Min Lee, who had been in a four-way tie for second after the first round, began the second round promisingly with birdies on the 12th and 14th holes, but five bogeys over the rest of the day saw her score slide to one-under 141 to finish the round tied for 21st.
Pressel, who led overnight by one shot following her opening-round 66 on Friday, built her lead to three strokes at seven-under before slipping with a bogey at the 13th.
Photo: AFP
Nordqvist birdied the last three holes to overcome back-to-back bogeys at 11 and 12. She also posted 69 to finish on six-under-par 136 in the 54-hole event at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.
Five players were tied for third, three shots off the pace — Catriona Matthew of Scotland (70), Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg (70), Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands (70) and Americans Kelly Shon (68) and Gerina Piller (70).
South Korean world No. 2 Park In-bee, the highest-ranked player in the field, registered a 70 for 141, six strokes behind Pressel.
Defending champion Stacy Lewis, ranked third in the world, shot 73 for 145.
Reigning US Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie, back in action after withdrawing from the Kingsmill Championship two weeks ago because of a hip injury, followed her opening 74 with a 72 and was tied for 82nd at 146.
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling finished tied for 26th with a 70 for an even-par 142 total, while Yani Tseng hit a 75 to go three-over 145, to be tied for 66th.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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