WATERLOO, Ontario — South Korea’s Inbee Park shot a 5-under-par 66 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.
The 2008 U.S. Women’s Open champion had a 14-under 199 total at Grey Silo. She rebounded from a bogey on the par-3 17th with a birdie on the par-5 18th.
“I hit the ball very good today,” Park said. “I hit a lot of good iron shots, and I think I played the par 5s really good today. That helped me a lot. There was some more putts out there that I could have made, but I was really happy with the way I hit the ball today. Hopefully, tomorrow [today] it will be a better putting day.”
Brittany Lang and Hee Kyung Seo each shot 67 to reach 12 under.
Lang parred the first 15 holes, then birdied Nos. 16 and 17 and made a 5-foot eagle putt on No. 18. The former Duke player is winless on the LPGA Tour.
Anna Nordqvist was 10 under after a 67.
“I thought it was solid. I played really well yesterday afternoon, couldn’t make a putt, shot 1 over, so I was a little bit disappointed after yesterday,” Nordqvist said. “So, I think it kind of got me a little, you know, a little momentum coming into today. It was solid. I hit a lot of greens, took advantage of the par 5s and I think that’s the keys on this course.”
Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks), a two-time winner this year, had a 69 to top the group at 8 under. Karen Stupples (Arkansas State) shot 63 and was at 2 under.
Michelle Wie was even par after a 73.
Leaderboard
MANULIFE FINANCIAL
LPGA CLASSIC
At Grey Silo Golf Course (Par 71, 6,354 yards) Waterloo, Ontario
Inbee Park ....................69-64-66—199 Brittany Lang ................69-65-67—201 Hee Kyung Seo ............66-68-67—201 Anna Nordqvist ............64-72-67—203
ARKANSANS
Stacy Lewis ..................72-64-69—205
— Complete scores, Page 11C
Sports, Pages 32 on 06/24/2012