Hur & Reto Now Share Lead in LPGA Event


First-round co-leader Mi Jung Hur fired a 5-under 67 to rise into a share of the lead with 36-hole leader Paula Reto, in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. The $1.3 million, 72-hole event started Thursday on the Senator Course in Prattville, Ala.

Reto, an LPGA rookie from South Africa who began Saturday with a three-stroke lead over the 24-year-old South Korean, posted a 70 to tie for the lead at 15-under 201, four strokes ahead of Americans Kris Tamulis, who had the low third round of 7-under 65, and 18-hole co-leader Stacy Lewis (70).

Hur had six birdies and a bogey, while Reto - who played her college golf at Purdue - posted six birdies, two bogeys and a double on the par-3 seventh hole at the course, a stop on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Tamulis had a stellar third round, posting seven birdies between the fifth and 14th holes and the rest pars.

Lewis, the top-ranked player in women's golf and the tournament winner in 2012, got off to a poor start with two bogeys in her first three holes. But the 29-year-old - a three-time winner this year - rebounded with four birdies the rest of the way for a 70.

Tied for fifth at 8-under 208 heading into Sunday's final round are American Alison Walshe and Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn, who each recorded 71s, while another stroke back are South Korean Ilhee Lee (68), France's Perrine Delacour (69), Japan's Ayako Uehara (70) and Americans Sydnee Michaels (72) and Brittany Lang (70).

Inbee Park and Lydia Ko, ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the Rolex Rankings, aren't playing in Alabama this week.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.