Blomqvist posts 62 at Women's British Open

BERKSHIRE, England (Ticker) -- Finland's Minea Blomqvist carded the lowest score at a women's major championship with a stunning 10-under-par 62 in the third round of the Weetabix Women's British Open at the Sunningdale Old Course.

The 19-year-old from Helsinki broke the course record set by Karrie Webb at this event in 1997 with a round that featured six birdies and two eagles. She equalled the 62 she set en route to her first victory in Hungary at the OTP Bank Central European Open three weeks ago.

Blomqvist started the tournament well with a 4-under-par 68, which included seven birdies and a triple bogey at the 11th hole. But in the second round, she racked up 40 putts in a 6-over-par 78 and only just made the halfway cut at two over.

However, starting the day 11 shots behind leader Karen Stupples from England, Blomqvist got out to a quick start with an eagle on the opening hole, hitting a driver and a seven wood to within 21 feet and sinking the putt.

"[Friday], I was just happy to make the cut to go on in the tournament," said Blomqvist, who has won three professional events this year and the Order of Merit on the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour in South Africa.

"I made an eagle and then went on and I had a feeling today that everything is going good and that's always and easy feeling to take."

At the uphill par three at No. 4, Blomqvist fired a six iron to within 18 feet and rolled the putt in. At the following hole, yet another monster putt found the bottom of the cup to move to four under after five holes.

The ninth hole was in reach for her and after hitting her driver to within 25 feet, she two-putted once again to turn in a 31.

Her second eagle of the day came at the 10th hole where she chipped in from the front of the green, and with the leaders yet to go out on the course, the two-time Junior Solheim Cup star surged to the lead.

With a lob wedge approach to the par-five 14th, Blomqvist sank the resulting 20-foot putt and at the next, hit her tee shot behind the scoreboard at the side of the green.

Getting a free drop from the referee, Blomqvist made an excellent up and down and kept the momentum going for what would be a grandstand finish.

A driver and a six iron to the 16th saw led to her fifth birdie of the day to equal Webb's 9-under-par mark, but at the last hole, Blomqvist made history in remarkable fashion.

With the pin tucked precariously behind the right hand greenside bunker, Blomqvist opted to play safely, perhaps too safely to the left side.

Two putts seemed the likely outcome, and three putts were distinctly possible. But not for this teenager, who showed no fear as she rattled the ball against the flagstick from 60 feet away and watched it disappear for her second 62 in three weeks.

"I knew immediately that it was my own record when the putt went in on the 18th," Blomqvist said. "I was nervous at the time and I was thinking I was going to make par, but I would like to make birdie."

The only thing she missed all day was the step leading into the scorers' hut where she signed for the equal lowest score on the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour. Even then she kept her composure, smiled and signed her place in the history books.

Blomqvist matched the mark of 62 set by Norway's Suzann Pettersen at last year's final round of the HP Open in Sweden and Trish Johnson's 62 in the 1996 French Open. Johnson's 62, however, was 11 under around the par 73 Arras GC in northern France.

Blomqvist sits four shots from the third-round lead, shared by American Heather Bowie and Australian Rachel Teske at 12 under.

Christie Kerr of the United States is one shot behind after shooting 8-under-par through her first 14 holes. She is tied with second-round leader Stupples, who had three birdies and a double-bogey in her first six holes.

"I made a huge par save on the first hole which swung the momentum in the middle of the round," Kerr said. "I think I made most of my birdies and those are some of the tougher holes."

Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam shot a 2-under-par 70 and is five shots back.

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