World No. 1 Yani Tseng fired a second consecutive six-under par 66 on Saturday to seize a one-stroke lead over Mindy Kim after the third round of the LPGA State Farm Classic. Taiwan’s Tseng opened with a birdie and closed with birdies on four of the last seven holes without suffering a bogey to stand on 17-under par 199 after 54 holes with American Kim one back after a 69.
“I feel very excited,” Tseng said. “I have a lot of energy right now, so I can’t wait to go out there tomorrow and make lots of birdies, just keep focused and try to not put too much pressure on myself, not think too much and just do the same as today.
“I think it will be good.”
China’s Feng Shanshan and American Brittany Lincicome shared third on 203 with Americans Wendy Ward and Juli Inkster another stroke adrift and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, American Paula Creamer and South Korean Se Ri Pak on 205.
Tseng birdied the front nine’s par-5s, the first and sixth holes, then birdied the par-4 12th and par-5 13th. She completed a birdie sweep of the par-5s at the 16th and added another at the par-3 17th to share the lead.
“Today was a little tough because the wind was different than last two days, and some of the par-5s I couldn’t reach,” Tseng said. “I wanted to just be patient every hole. Some of the holes you couldn’t get close.
“Just wanted to hit the fairway and green and make two putts. I felt really patient. All the par-5s I made birdies. It was great.”
Kim, who led after 36 holes, finished with a bogey to leave Tseng alone at the top.
“You need to be aggressive,” Tseng said. “Tomorrow my goal is just having fun and play one shot at a time.”
The tension of sleeping on the lead hit Kim as she started the third round.
“I was pretty nervous when I teed up, so my ball wasn’t going so straight,” Kim said. “I managed to get in a couple of birdies and my round kind of turned into a good round.”
Kim started the back nine with three birdies in a row but had six birdies and three bogeys on the day.
“I was nervous. I’m human,” Kim said. “It happens to all players who are leading the tournament. I’m just happy that I’m in this position and have a chance to win.”
But Tseng is a major hurdle for Kim to overcome to claim her first LPGA victory.
“She’s the No. 1 golfer in the world right now. She’s hot right now,” Kim said. “I’m just happy that I’ll get a chance to play with her.
“I was really nervous but I just have to treat it like it’s the same, like a Thursday.”
