 | R3 LEADERBOARD -13 J Jang (Kor)
-8 A Sorenstam (Swe), C Kerr (USA)
-7 L Neumann (Swe), Y Kim (Kor), J Inkster (USA), S Gustafson (Swe), M Wie (USA, am)
Selected others:
-6 K Stupples (Eng)
-4 L Davies (Eng) |
Korea's Jeong Jang maintained control of the Women's British Open by taking a five-shot lead with one round left. Resuming at Royal Birkdale four shots ahead, Jang responded to pressure from an elite chasing pack, including world number one Annika Sorenstam.
Jang carded a three-under-par 69 to reach 13 under overall as Sorenstam ominously moved into contention with a 66 to share second with Cristie Kerr.
Defending champion Karen Stupples had a good round to get to six under.
One shot better off than the English star is American amateur Michelle Wie. The 15-year-old sensation carded six birdies in a 67.
|  I'll be nervous, not because I'm playing with Annika but because I'm leading |
But the big-hitting six-footer could have been even closer to Jang if she could have got her putter to work. "I didn't hole anything longer than nine feet," she said. "I'm still pretty happy with my score but I just feel it could have been so much better."
The 25-year-old Jang, who has never won in six seasons on the LPGA Tour, said she would pay close attention to the threat of Sorenstam while trying to close out the win on Sunday.
"I'll be nervous, not because I'm playing with Annika but because I'm leading," she said.
"I'll be watching what she is doing, but I'll be doing my own thing and playing my own game."
| I'm here to win and now I'm going to go out and give it a real go tomorrow |
Stupples was not the only British player to enjoy a good round on Saturday, as Wales' Becky Brewerton matched her with a 65 to get to five under. Brewerton said her seven-under-par effort was the best round of her life.
"My previous low was a 66 here in the Birkdale Scratch Amateur but to do this in the British Open really special," she said.
"I'm here to win and now I'm going to go out and give it a real go tomorrow."
Laura Davies had two eagles on the back nine to improve to four under, the same mark as Becky Morgan, another Welsh star.
Sorenstam, who has already won two majors this season, was delighted with her display.
"This was the best I've played all week," she said. "I finally made some birdies at the par fives so that was mission accomplished and tomorrow is going to be a big day."
MMIX
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