The story appears on

Page A6

October 6, 2013

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » Sports » Golf

Feng grabs one-shot Beijing lead

China’s Feng Shanshan shot a 9-under 64 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead over American Stacy Lewis after the third round of the Reignwood LPGA Classic in Beijing.

Shrouded in the Chinese capital’s notorious smog, Feng carded nine birdies in a bogey-free round for a total of 21-under 198, boosting the chances of a home winner in the first LPGA tournament played in the country.

Feng was in a two-way duel with Lewis all day before grabbing the outright lead for good with a birdie on 16. Both players added birdies on the final two holes, making for a total of eight for Lewis, who remains bogey-free in the tournament.

Feng said she anticipated a similar duel in today’s final round. “I’ve played Stacy many times. I know she’s a very aggressive player, and I know that on this course she could definitely drain a lot of birdies and chase back. I knew the lead wasn’t secure,” said Feng, who won last year’s LPGA Championship to become the first Chinese major winner.

“A one-stroke lead is very small. There are 18 holes tomorrow so there’s still a challenge. If the conditions are right, you can get a very low score on this course.”

The start of play was delayed because of the high levels of smog, and poor visibility dogged the course.

Top-ranked Park In-bee was another four strokes back in third after finishing with four straight birdies for a 66.

Park started the tournament slow, with first and second rounds of 69 and 68, but found her rhythm with birdies on five of the first seven holes. The South Korean then made two bogeys before her run of birdies at the end. “I got off to a good start and then in the middle I was slower and at the end of the round, everything went in,” Park said. “My putter just didn’t want to go in for six or seven holes.”

Park has won six tournaments this season, including three majors, but has struggled to maintain her dominant form over the last two months.

Australia’s Karrie Webb was seven shots back in fourth. Overnight leader Jessica Korda of the United States slipped to sixth after a 76 that included a double bogey and four bogeys.

Another Chinese player, Lin Xiyu, was tied for seventh at 10 under along with Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand.

In Dublin, Ohio, Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar beat Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel 4 and 2 to spark the United States to a 6 1/2-5 1/2 lead yesterday at the Presidents Cup.

The Internationals and Americans split four alternate-shot matches that were completed yesterday morning because of a storm delay of two hours and 36 minutes on Friday.

Five four-ball matches and five more foursomes matches were also set to be completed by sunset yesterday to get the event back on schedule, with lift, clean and place rules in effect on the rain-soaked course.




 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend