Birdie-binge has Park out front
South Korean aims to win event for third straight time; Henderson sits six off lead
HARRISON, N.Y.— Two-time defending champion Inbee Park shot a 7-under 66 on Saturday to overtake fellow South Korean Sei Young Kim for the lead after three rounds of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Kim, a rookie who came into the round with a one-stroke lead, shot a 69. The two had battled all afternoon and each went into the final hole at 13-under par. But Park, who needed just 28 putts Saturday, made her seventh birdie of the day on 18, and Kim missed a four-foot putt for par.
Park said her experience in winning this tournament the past two years may give her a bit of an advantage Sunday over her 22-year-old countrywoman. Kim has won twice this season but will be looking for her first major championship on Sunday.
“It feels like the first time is always hard, always hard to do and it puts extra pressure on yourself,” Park said. “But when you’re trying to do the second, third time in a row, it just feels like you’ve done your homework already. So you feel a little bit more relaxed and you kind of know how it feels like and how it’s going to play like.”
Kim said she plans to use the bogey on the 18th as “medicine” on Sunday to help her get better.
She also has a recent history that should give her some confidence. Kim beat Park at the Lotte Open in Hawaii by chipping in to force a playoff and holing out from 154 yards on the first sudden-death hole.
“I don’t mind my position right now because I feel comfortable,” she said. “Sounds like I have done this before. So I will be aggressive and I will do my best to try to win.”
The duo will go into Sunday with some separation from the rest of the pack. Suzann Pettersen and 17-yearold Canadian sensation Brooke Henderson each shot a 71. They ended tied with Hall of Famer Karrie Webb for third place at 8-under par, six strokes back of Park.
Henderson is attempting to become the youngest winner of a major championship. She is also looking for a win that would assure her a spot on the Tour next year after being denied an age exemption.
“This year is definitely a learning experience for me,” she said. “It’s a year where I’m trying to play my best and get my card for next year, whether it’s the money list or the win this year or go to Q-School. My goal is to have full status next year.”
At the other end of the spectrum is Webb. The 40-year-old is attempting
“This year is definitely a learning experience for me. It’s a year where I’m trying to play my best and get my card for next year.” CANADA’S BROOKE HENDERSON
to become the second-oldest winner in the 60 year history of the event. Webb was in second place to start the day but had to overcome bogeys on her first two holes to shoot a 72. She will be trying to win her eighth major.
“If I had told you I was going to shoot 1-under today, I wouldn’t have thought I was going to be six behind,” she said. “It’s going to take a big round tomorrow from me and probably some help from the leaders.”
Pettersen is on a hot streak after winning the Manulife Classic last week in Cambridge, Ont., for her15th tour victory, her first since October 2013.
Morgan Pressel is in sixth place. She went 5-under on the back nine to finish a round of 69, including an eagle on 18.
“When I got to the 18th tee and I saw that the tee was moved up a little bit, plus it was downwind, I said to my caddie, I said definitely we can get there today if we hit a good drive and I did,” she said.