Kim Forges Three-Stroke Advantage at ANA Inspiration


South Korea's Sei Young Kim carded a 3-under 69 to take a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the ANA Inspiration. The first major on the LPGA Tour's calendar is being played at the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The 22-year-old South Korean recorded three birdies in her final 10 holes to overtake Stacy Lewis and reach 10-under 206, three strokes clear of Lewis and four ahead of Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, who had Saturday's low round of 66, and Americans Brittany Lincicome (70) and Morgan Pressel (71).

The $2.5 million ANA Inspiration is the new name of the LPGA Tour's first major of the year. The former Kraft Nabisco Championship was renamed after the American food giant ended its sponsorship in 2014 and All Nippon Airways of Japan stepped in as the new sponsor through, at least, 2019. Other than the new name, the event maintains tradition by using the same venue since its 1972 inception and the champion will still jump into Poppie's Pond beside the 18th green after Sunday's final round.

One stroke further down the leaderboard are Ariya's sister Moriya Jutanugarn (70), China's Shanshan Feng (70) and South Korean Jenny Shin (71).

Lewis, the No. 3-ranked player in the world and the 2011 winner of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, took over the lead early on the back nine thanks to six birdies through 12 holes.

But the 30-year-old from Ohio and 11-time winner dropped two shots with bogeys coming home to clear the way for Kim, who began Saturday with a two-stroke lead over Pressel.

Pressel could have been closer entering the final round but bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes.

Kim, who notched her first victory in February's Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, said she expects to be fired up trying to secure her second career title and first major Sunday. "I think I'll be nervous going into tomorrow," she told reporters through an interpreter.

Lewis thinks she can make a move in the final round. "Three shots on this golf course is not a lot," she said. "Nobody was running way. We were all going to stay close."

Trailing by six in a tie for ninth at 212 are Norway's Anna Nordqvist (69), defending champion Lexi Thompson (71), Pat Hurst (70), and South Koreans Mi Hyang Lee (70) and So Yeon Ryu (71).

Two-time Kraft Nabisco champion Karrie Webb had a 5-under 67 to rise into contention at 213 and share 14th with No. 2-ranked Inbee Park, Carlota Ciganda, Marina Alex, and Mirim Lee.

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard.