Hull goes two clear in Singapore
Singapore (Sports Network) - Katherine Hull of Australia fired a six-under 66
on Saturday to move atop the leaderboard after the third round of the HSBC
Women's Champions Tournament.
Hull finished 54 holes at 11-under 205 and is two clear at Tanah Merah Country
Club.
Angela Stanford, who won twice last year on the LPGA Tour, also posted a 66 on
Saturday and vaulted into second place at minus-nine. Sun Young Yoo shot a
four-under 68 and is alone in third at eight-under 208.
Mi Hyun Kim managed a two-under 70 on Saturday and is fourth at minus-seven.
A large thunderstorm hammered the Tanah Merah Country Club on Saturday at the
point the final threesome was on the 17th hole. The delay lasted almost 2 1/2
hours, but the third round was completed.
The stoppage hurt overnight co-leader Paula Creamer. She came back out and
bogeyed the final hole to polish off an even-par 72 that dropped her into
fifth place at six-under 210.
One player the suspension did not hurt was Hull.
The Australian, who had to complete her final two holes after the delay,
parred No. 17, then birdied the last. That final birdie gave Hull a two-shot
cushion in her first 54-hole lead on the LPGA Tour.
"That was probably a key moment in the round I was able to go on and make some
birdies coming in," said Hull. "So, yeah, it was almost mistake free. But
there's always room for improvement."
Hull got off to a great start on Saturday. She birdied the second, third and
fifth holes and that one at No. 5 gave her sole possession of the lead at
eight-under par.
She stumbled a bit at the very next hole. Hull bogeyed No. 6 for the second
time this week, but reclaimed the outright lead with a five-foot birdie at the
par-five ninth.
At the 11th, Hull hit a six-iron to nine feet to set up birdie. That gave her
a two-shot edge, but Stanford and Yoo closed the gap to one. Hull was able to
comfortably grab a lead thanks to her play late.
Hull hit a gap-wedge to seven feet at the short, par-four 16th. She rolled in
that birdie putt, then headed indoors when the lightning and heavy rain hit
the course.
At the closing hole, Hull hit a spectacular five-iron to five feet. She
converted that birdie putt for a two-shot cushion as she tries for her second
win in as many years.
"I'd love to shoot a 66. But I'll just stick to the same game plan and hit as
many fairways and greens as possible and try to make as many putts as
possible," said Hull, who won the 2008 Canadian Women's Open. "But I think the
key for me is to stay focused on the process, as opposed to the outcome and
trying to shoot a particular score.
"I'm kind of liking the fact that I have a two-shot lead and I'm comfortable
with the way I'm playing, so, game on."
Defending champion and last week's winner in Thailand, Lorena Ochoa carded a
three-under 69 on Saturday and is tied for sixth place six shots back at
minus-five.
"I want to win and I believe it's possible so I need to be more aggressive
tomorrow, get some birdies early and hopefully continue the momentum," said
Ochoa.
Ochoa is tied with Jiyai Shin (66), Juli Inkster (69), Amy Yang (69) and
Creamer's overnight co-leader Jane Park (73).
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