Choi Still Leads in Malaysia


Na Yeon Choi posted a 3-under 68 to maintain her two-shot lead through three rounds of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. The 72-hole, $1.9 million event started Thursday at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

Choi, the defending champion, posted four birdies and a bogey on a day when play was delayed for four hours by rain. The 2012 U.S. Women's Open champion stands at 13-under 200, two strokes ahead of fellow South Korean Inbee Park (65) and four in front of Karrie Webb (68).

Choi admitted she had a tough time dealing with the conditions Saturday. "I think I had a pretty hard time today. It was raining all day. That's why I play so long. We wake up like 12 hours ago and that's a pretty long day," she said.

"I think it's pretty the same like last year. The good thing is I know I cannot control other players' score. I am going to watch the leaderboard because I have to know what is the situation but I cannot control the score. I have to focus on my game, play my game, just play one shot at a time. I think that's my goal tomorrow."

Contrarily, Park dealt well with the rain. "I think I play much better in the rain than hot," Park said. "The front nine was a little bit disappointing but I just knew the birdies would come out. I just tried to trust myself. I think I still need a lot of birdies tomorrow to win. I'll just go out there and play aggressive and try to get myself a lot of birdies."

Tied for fourth at 205 are Japan's Ai Miyazato (68) and Norway's Suzann Pettersen (70). American Paula Creamer (70), Scotland's Catriona Matthew (70) and Mika Miyazato (71 and no relation to Ai) are at 206.

The only three-time winners on the LPGA Tour this year, top-ranked Yani Tseng and No. 2 Stacy Lewis, are in 53rd and 28th places, respectively. Tseng posted her best round of the tournament, a 68, while Lewis had a 73.

For complete scoring, visit http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx.