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Old chasing the new Inkster, Hurst one stroke behind Park at Greens.com
Posted: Saturday June 03, 2000 09:00 PM
MURRELLS INLET, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Rookie Grace Park seems determined to hold off the pack of veteran golfers pursuing her at the $750,000 Kathy Ireland Greens.com LPGA Classic. In search of her first career victory, Park entered today with a one-stroke lead and did not falter, finishing with a 2-under-par 70 to remain a shot ahead of Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst entering Sunday's final round. The first-year pro from Korea is 12-under 204 for the tourney. She earned exempt status on the LPGA Tour by placing first on the SBC Futures Tour money list last year. Park played in five tour events and finished in a tie for eighth at the U.S. Open -- her best career finish. Not used to frontrunning, Park had a pair of bogeys on the front nine but countered with birdies on the third and sixth holes before playing a solid back nine. She birdied the 10th and 17th holes to hold off her pursuers. Hall of Famer Inkster put up her second straight 68, applying some serious pressure on Park with four birdies on the back nine. Hurst followed Friday's 66 with a bogey-free 68 to remain just behind Park. Inkster has finished second or third in half of the eight events she has entered this year and won the Longs Drugs Challenge in California in April. She has 23 career victories, including five majors. Hurst captured the Electrolux USA Championship in Tennessee on May 14 for her third career win. She also took home a major in 1998 at the Nabisco Dinah Shore and has five top-10 finishes this year. Cristie Kerr, Kristal Parker and Hall of Famer Michell McGann are two strokes off the lead. Working in Park's favor this week are the absences of Karrie Webb of Australia, a four-time winner this year; Annika Sorenstam of Sweden; and Laura Davies of Britain, the top three money winners on the LPGA Tour. Defending champion Rachel Hetherington of Australia shot a 72 for a second straight day and is at 2-over 218, 14 strokes back. The par-72 Wachesaw Plantation East Golf Club measures 6,231 yards.
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