Park Vaults into Lead at Women's British Open


Inbee Park gave herself a present Saturday. On her 26th birthday, the South Korean fired a 4-under 68 to take the 54-hole lead in the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale.

Park, a six-time winner - including three majors - in 2013 and whose only victory this year came in June's Manulife Financial LPGA Classic, carded six birdies and two bogeys and is now at 4-under 212 for a one-stroke edge heading into Sunday's final round.

Park, who was supplanted as the No. 1-ranked player in women's golf earlier this year by Stacy Lewis and is now No. 3 behind Lewis and Lydia Ko, has enjoyed not having the pressure of being under the radar this week. "It's somewhat weird, awkward, but I didn't mind that," the South Korean told reporters.

"I didn't mean having three days feel like this is a normal tournament. I didn't have much pressure. Really just try to play my own golf. Yeah, I start to feel a little bit of pressure from now and tomorrow, but I'd rather be having the pressure than not being in contention."

If Park can pull off the victory Sunday, she'll become the seventh woman in history to accomplish a career Grand Slam. She won the 2008 U.S. Women's Open as a 19-year-old and her three majors last year included the Kraft Nabisco, Wegmans LPGA Championship and U.S. Women's Open.

One stroke back in a tie for second are Sweden's Suzann Pettersen - who also shot 68, China's Shanshan Feng (69) and South Korea's Sun-Ju Ahn (71).

Sharing fifth at 2-under 214 are American Amelia Lewis (71) and Paraguay's Julieta Granada (72). Three behind Park are English teenager Charlie Hull - who fired Saturday's low round of 6-under 66, Americans Stacy Lewis (70) and Mo Martin, Spain's Beatriz Recari (74) and South Koreans Eun-Hee Ji (71), Amy Yang (72) and So Yeon Ryu (74).

After opening with two straight 69s, Martin began play with a three-stroke lead. But the 31-year-old Californian had a much tougher time of it in the third round, posting a 5-over 77 that included two birdies, five bogeys and a double on the par-4 11th.

Stacy Lewis is the defending champion. The three-time winner in 2014 said that she's ready for Sunday, when the weather is expected to worsen at Royal Birkdale. "You can make a double so quick on this golf course that you've just got to keep hanging in there. If you get in trouble, get out, and just stay patient. If you make a bogey, it's okay, because you've got some par-5 finishing holes here.

"So it's going to be one much those tough days and just hang in there. But I like coming from behind versus having the lead. I think the lead's harder when those conditions get hard.

"I love Sundays." Lewis added. "You know, that's the day that I play for. When I have that chance to win so that's where I love to be and I think when you love to be there, it's that much easier."

After getting off to an inauspicious start with two straight bogeys, the 18-year-old Hull rebounded in a hurry with eight birdies in the next 14 holes before a bogey-birdie finish at the two par-5 closing holes.

Despite her three missteps, Hull was proud of her performance and getting back into contention, especially in front of a "home" crowd. "I feel like I kind of stepped up there today and really proved myself. It was great to have a good crowd out there as well.

"I think the pressure is good, though, coming into a tournament, because it shows that you have played quite well coming into this tournament and played well this season."

Tied for 14th at even-par 216 are Americans Angela Stanford (70) and Marina Alex (68) and Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera (73). Ko is another shot back with Japan's Ai Miyazato and American Jessica Korda.

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