Park leads Kraft Nabisco by three shots

Park leads Kraft Nabisco by three shots










John Reger, The Sports Xchange April 6, 2013 8:50 PMThe SportsXchange



RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Inbee Park shot a 5-under 67 to increase her lead to three shots over Lizette Salas on Saturday going into the final round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Park, who is from South Korea, is at 12-under par, while Salas, who shot a third round 3-under 69 is at 9-under par. Six players, including two-time Kraft Nabisco Champion,Karrie Webb are tied for third at 6 under.

Salas was one stroke behind at the beginning of the third round and immediately put pressure on Park. Salas matched Park's birdie on the first hole and then added another to tie Park on the second.

Park, who had no bogeys in the third round, regained the lead on the fifth hole when she drained a 30-foot birdie.

Salas, who had one bogey in her first two rounds, made her second of the tournament on No. 8 to slip two shots behind Park.

The lead went back to one when Salas made a 3-foot birdie on the following hole. Both golfers shot 34 on the front nine.

Park took advantage of her accuracy off the tee and her approach shots. Park hit 11 of 14 fairways, her best in three rounds and also was 15-18 in greens in regulation.

Putting was also another advantage Park had over Salas. Park made a 40-footer on the 10th hole for birdie and got the lead to three when she birdied No. 12.

Salas cut the lead to two on the following hole with a birdie, but Park increased it again to three when she made a 3-footer on the par-3 17th.

Salas had a chance to cut the lead to two on the final hole when Park made par and Salas had a 4-foot birdie putt. The downhill putt just slid past the right side of the cup.

NOTES: Karrie Webb, who won this event in 2000 and 2006, moved into the top 10 in the third round. Webb, who is from Australia, shot a 67 to get to 6-under par and a tie for third. It was her first round in the 60s. ... Jessica Korda has made 10 birdies in her last 26 holes. She has also made three double bogeys. ... Angela Stanford shot the best round of the day, a 6-under 66, and moved from 28th to a tie for third.