Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Park ahead by three at Nabisco
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Inbee Park’s 7-iron tee shot Saturday on the 168yard 17th hole turned left on a perfect line at the back-left pin, landed softly and rolled to 2 ½ feet for yet another birdie in the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
The 24- year- old from South Korea, who leads by three strokes with a round left in the first major championship of the year, admitted it wasn’t quite the way she planned it after watching playing partner Lizette Salas’ ball sail too far left and into a bunker.
“It was actually a little bit of a mis-shot,” Park said. “I aimed a little more right, but I slightly pulled it and it ended up perfect.”
Bogey-free in her last 22 holes at Mission Hills, Park shot her second consecutive 5-under-par 67 in tricky wind conditions to reach 12 under.
“I feel really good about my swing and the stroke at the moment,” Park said. “I feel really comfortable around this golf course, too. That helps.”
She’s in position for her second major title and second victory of the year. She won the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open and added her fourth LPGA Tour title in February in Thailand when Ariya Jutanugarn closed with a triple bogey to blow a two-stroke lead.
Salas, a stroke behind Park entering the round, had a 69 to remain second.
Hall of Famer Karrie Webb, the tournament winner in 2000 and 2006, was five strokes back at 6 under along with Suzann Pettersen,
Top-ranked Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 1-under 71 and is 11 shots behind Park. She is in a tie for 23rd place with five others, including Michelle Wie.
“Coming into the week my swing didn’t feel great and I was kind of hoping I would figure things out by now, but I just haven’t,” said Lewis, the 2011 champion.
She has struggled after winning consecutive events this year in Singapore and Phoenix to take the top spot in the world from Yani Tseng.
Karen Stupples (Arkansas State) shot a 3-over 75 and is 16 shots off the pace.