Juli Inkster, Ai Miyazato lead HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore by 2 shots
By APSaturday, February 27, 2010
Inkster, Miyazato take 2-shot lead in Singapore
SINGAPORE — Juli Inkster and Ai Miyazato each shot 3-under 69 Saturday to share a two-shot lead after the third round of the HSBC Women’s Champions.
The 49-year-old Inkster led most of the round and finished at 7-under 209.
The Hall of Famer could become the oldest winner in LPGA history. Beth Daniel was 46 when she won the Canadian Women’s Open in 2003.
“I’d say right now I’m definitely the underdog,” said Inkster, who hasn’t won a title since 2006. “I don’t think anybody expects me to win.”
Miyazato, who won the season-opener last week in Thailand, moved into a tie with a 30-foot putt for eagle on the 16th hole.
“It was a really long putt, but I got a really good stroke and did a down-slope putt, and it was in,” Miyazato said.
Momoko Ueda (68), Sun Young Yoo (71), Hee Young Park (69) and Hee-won Han (71) were two shots back. Cristie Kerr (71) and Suzann Pettersen (72) trail by three strokes.
Michelle Wie had a 69 to trail the leaders by five strokes, along with defending champion Jiyai Shin (72) and Karrie Webb (72).
Angela Stanford, who was tied for the second-round lead, had a triple-bogey on the 11th. She birdied two of her last three holes to stay in contention at 3 under with a 74.
Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa — who stumbled to a 79 in the second round — shot a 73, leaving her 11 strokes back.
Miyazato said she’s looking forward to playing with Inkster in the final round.
“Juli is like my idol,” she said. “I feel honored to play with her.”
Inkster last won after sharing a third-round lead at the 2003 Evian Masters.
