Singapore (My Sportsbook) - Juli Inkster and Ai Miyazato both carded three- under 69s Saturday and they share the lead after three rounds of the HSBC Women's Champions.
Inkster and Miyazato completed 54 holes at seven-under-par 209. If Inkster goes on to victory, she would be the LPGA Tour's oldest-ever winner. For Miyazato, it would be her second win in a row as she claimed the season- opening Honda PTT LPGA Thailand last weekend.
Momoko Ueda matched the low round of the day with her four-under 68. She climbed into a share of third place at five-under-par 211. Ueda was joined there by Hee Young Park (69), Sun Young Yoo (71) and Hee-Won Han (71).
Second-round leaders Angela Stanford and Song-Hee Kim both struggled on Saturday. Stanford birdied the 18th to shoot two-over 74, which dropped her into a share of 10th at three-under-par 213. Kim was one stroke back at minus- two after faltering to a three-over 75 at Tanah Merah Country Club.
Inkster got her round going with a birdie on the second. However, she gave that stroke back when she bogeyed the par-four fourth.
The World Golf Hall of Fame member birdied the par-three eighth to grab a share of the lead. She took over the top spot on the leaderboard with a birdie on the par-three 11th.
Inkster parred her next three holes. At the par-five 15th, she converted another birdie chance to grab a two-stroke lead. Inkster was caught by Miyazato as she parred the final three holes.
If Inkster wins, she would be 49 years, eight months and four days old. Beth Daniel currently owns the mark for oldest winner on the LPGA Tour as she won the 2003 Canadian Women's Open at the age of 45 years, eight months and 29 days.
Miyazato had a quick start to her round with birdies on one and two. She gave one shot back with a bogey on the third, but atoned for that error with a birdie on the fifth.
That birdie gave Miyazato a one-stroke lead of Kim. Miyazato stumbled to a bogey on the ninth and dropped into a share of the lead.
She remained at minus-five as she parred the first six holes of the back nine. At the short par-four 16th, Miyazato made eagle to jump into a share of the lead with Inkster at seven-under. She parred her final two holes to end there.
Cristie Kerr (71), Suzann Pettersen (72) and Yani Tseng (71) share seventh place at four-under-par 212.
NOTES: Defending champion Jiyai Shin managed an even-par 72 and is tied for 15th at minus-two, where she stands alongside Michelle Wie (69) and seven others...Women's world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa struggled again as she shot one-over 73 and completed 54 holes at plus-four...There was no cut in this event.
