Lincicome Retains Lead in LPGA Championship


Brittany Lincicome is still atop the leaderboard in the LPGA Championship, the $2.3 million major that began Thursday at Monroe Golf Club in Pittsford, N.Y.

On a damp, overcast day, Lincicome - a four-time winner on the LPGA Tour who began Saturday with a three-stroke lead - carded four birdies and three bogeys for a 10-under 54-hole total of 206.

The 28-year-old from Florida is a stroke ahead of Norway's Suzann Pettersen (67) and South Korea's Inbee Park (69) heading into the final round.

Lincicome is pleased with how things have gone so far in the tournament. "I feel like I've been working really hard and doing a lot of the right things, and for it to finally come together this week, obviously the week of a major."

She also tipped her cap to the local fans. "More importantly, just for the people in the Rochester area, it was so great to come out, the fans are so supportive, and they're all out there. I can hear them cheering for me, and it's just great to be back in this area. And obviously we're going to miss it, and hopefully we can come back here soon, but I think it's just great to - I think it's just the vibe, the golf course sets up great for my game, and the fans and spectators and everybody out there are really welcoming, and it just means a lot actually. It's great. To have my boyfriend and dad here, too, it's nice."

Mirim Lee, who notched her maiden win in last week's Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan, is in fourth at 209 following a 69.

Four back of Lincicome are American Gerina Piller (69), New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko (71) and South Korean Meena Lee (71).

Norway's Anna Nordqvist (69), China's Shanshan Feng (71) and American Jane Park (72) are tied for eighth at 211.

No. 1-ranked Stacy Lewis carded her second 1-under 71 of the tournament and is now at 1-under 215 heading into Sunday.

If Ko can get a victory this week, she'll supplant Lewis as the top-rated player in women's golf.

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