Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Sorenstam hangs onto New Albany lead

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Saturday October 02, 1999 08:48 PM

NEW ALBANY, Ohio (AP) -- Annika Sorenstam shot a 3-under 69 Saturday and withstood a surge by Mardi Lunn to hold a two-shot lead after the third round of the inaugural New Albany Golf Classic.

Sorenstam, who entered the day two shots ahead of Liselotte Neumann and four ahead of Lunn, lost the lead at No. 11, fell behind by two strokes at 14 and needed birdies on two of the last four holes to regain her advantage.

Sorenstam stood at 13-under 203 heading into Sunday's final round of the $1 million tournament. A victory would be her second this year as she won the Michelob Light Classic in July.

Neumann, without a top-10 finish since finishing second to Juli Inkster in the LPGA Championship in July, was third at 207. Local favorite Meg Mallon, an Ohio State graduate, was at 8 under.

Lunn, who won the Areaweb.com Challenge in August and has four other top 10 finishes this year, used a birdie on the par-3 11th to tie Sorenstam at 11 under. She moved to 13 under and two shots ahead with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14.

But she lost the lead when her tee shot on 15 landed in a bunker and after a solid chip, she missed a 4-foot putt for par.

She managed to save par on 16 and 17, but missed a 6-footer on 18 to fall two shots back despite a 5-under 67.

Lunn had three other birdies and an eagle Saturday, but the three bogeys -- two of which came over the last four holes -- allowed Sorenstam back into the lead with several clutch putts.

Sorenstam managed just four birdies, but she bogeyed only once.

Emilee Klein birdied three of the last four holes to finish with a 68 and was five strokes back.

Rachel Hetherington stayed at 6 under after shooting a 72 Saturday.

Kathleen Parker-Gregory, who led after an opening-round 64 -- the lowest round of her pro career -- recovered from a 77 Friday to pull within eight shots of the lead at 211.

Janice Moodie started the day 2 over, but shot a 6-under 66 and was in a four-way tie for eighth at 4-under 212.

 

Related information
Stories
Swede takes over lead at LPGA event
Stats
New Albany LPGA Par Scores
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.