MOBILE, Alabama: South Korea’s Chella Choi fired a six-under par 66 yesterday to seize a one-stroke lead over Sweden’s surging Anna Nordqvist after the third round of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic.
Choi, seeking her first LPGA title, stood on 17-under 199 after 54 holes with Nordqvist, who fired a course and tournament record 61, and second-round leader Jessica Korda of the United States sharing second on 200.
“Every hole birdie chance because I know my shots,” Choi said. “So I think just confidence and focus on just teeing ground. It’s no problem.”
Australian Hall of Famer Karrie Webb, in search of her 39th career LPGA title, was another shot back on 201 after making her 53rd consecutive cut.
Nordqvist fired 10 birdies and an eagle against a lone bogey to break the day-old course and event mark of 62 set by American Sydnee Michaels.
“Today was a lot of fun,” Nordqvist said. “It’s one of those days where you feel like all your hard work and your patience is paying off. You see yourself with a lot of confidence and know you can do it and believe in yourself.”
Nordqvist, who began the round sharing 27th place, strung together five birdies in a row starting at the par-4 third, taking advantage of both par-5 holes on the front nine in the run.
She began the back nine with back-to-back birdies and added an eagle at the par-5 13th before suffering her first bogey in 30 holes at the par-3 14th. But Nordqvist responded with three birdies in a row, a run that finished at the par-3 17th, and parred to complete her sensational round, a career-best by four strokes and the lowest fired by any LPGA player this season. Choi, who hit every fairway and missed only two greens in regulation, birdied the par-5 fourth, par-4 fifth and par-5 sixth holes for the second day in a row before taking only her second bogey of the event at the par-4 ninth. AFP
