Morgan Pressel carded a 2-under-par 69 in the wind to take a one-stroke lead over Anna Nordqvist of Sweden heading to the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, N.J.
Pressel, seeking her first LPGA victory since the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic, birdied two of the first six holes to protect her lead and after taking her only bogey at No. 13, added a final birdie on the 16th hole.
“It was a tough day to play,” said Pressel, who also captured the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship. “I think that the wind tomorrow is going to be pretty similar, about 20 miles an hour or so, and I was able to keep the ball in front of me really today.
“I only hit a couple of poor shots, one on 13 where I ended up having to pitch out after a poor drive, but the wind is tough to club. It’s also tough to commit, and I think that I did a pretty good job committing to all the shots today, committing to my target lines.
“I’m going to need more of the same tomorrow.”
Nordqvist, who has won four times on the LPGA Tour, birdied the last three holes and also finished at 69.
Rookie Kelly Shon had three birdies in a span of six holes after starting on the back nine and added another on No. 9 to shoot 66 and was three shots back in a tie for third with Gerina Piller, Catriona Matthew of Scotland, Christel Boeljon of France and Pernilla Lindberg of Sweden, who all came in at 70.
Marissa Steen birdied her last hole, No. 9, to also post a 70 and was another stroke behind in a tie for eighth with Kim Kaufman and Sun Young Yoo of South Korea, two others who recorded 70s.
Defending champion Stacy Lewis had two bogeys down the stretch and shot 73, but made the cut right on the number. However, Michelle Wie of Stanford missed the cut by one stroke at 74-72–146 and Lexi Thompson was four shots shy at 74-75–149.
