Two-time defending champion Inbee Park of South Korea fired a bogey-free 7-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead to the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y.
Park, who won the tournament the last two seasons when it was still the LPGA Championship before falling under the PGA of America umbrella this year, birdied three of the last four holes to seize control.
“I don’t know how to describe in words how I’m going to feel tomorrow if I ended up winning tomorrow, but definitely it will feel very good,” said Park, who has won five major titles. “Obviously, I’ve done something three times before; I won three majors in a row (in 2013). I’m just trying to give myself the confidence that I can do it, do another three-time tomorrow.
“The way I’ve been playing, I’ve really been happy with ball striking, and today was the best putting day yet. So, I mean, it definitely gives me a lot of motivation and confidence going into tomorrow.”
Park is trying to equal the record of Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, who captured the LPGA Championship three straight times from 2003 to 2005.
Rookie See Young Kim, also of South Korea, was right with Park for much of the day but carded two bogeys on the back nine en route to a 69 and will start the final round two shots behind.
Two-time major champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway posted a 71 and was six strokes back in a tie for third with 17-year-old Brooke Henderson of Canada, who also had a 71, and seven-time major winner Karrie Webb of Australia, who came in at 72.
Morgan Pressel shot 69 and was another shot behind in solo sixth, while Brittany Lincicome totaled 69 and was one more stroke back in a tie for seventh with Shanshan Feng of China China, who carded a 68, and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea, who wound up at 69.
