(6 March 2010 – Gold Coast, Australia)
rnKarrie Webb is well positioned to win her seventh ANZ Ladies Masters after a third round of 64 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast gave her a one shot lead over defending champion Katherine Hull and Korean surprise package Bo-Mee Lee.
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Not that Webb is a lay down misere by any stretch of the imagination, but the Queen of Royal Pines is clearly the favourite to extend her reign and the manner in which she finished off her round today gives the rest of the field plenty to think about overnight. Webb birdied her final two holes, including something quite special at the last when her 6 iron approach from 159 yards and from the fairway bunker finished 10 feet from the hole. When she converted that opportunity she had edged ahead of Lee, who was already in the clubhouse, and Hull, who was playing in the group behind.
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Webb puts her good ball striking down to a swing thought she implemented later in her round on Friday. “On my last hole yesterday I hit two of my best shots after deciding to shorten my swing up a little. Then today when I went to the range I worked with Triggsy (Webb’s coach) on that same thing." Webb is perhaps surprised that a round of 64 has not separated her a little more from the field. The scoring has been great. “I thought shooting 64 I might have had a two or three shot lead but the scoring has been very low.”
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When the final group of Amanda Blumenherst, So Yeon Ryu and Ji-Na Lim set out in round three of the ANZ Ladies Masters, 20 players were within three shots of the lead. Even those further back in the field probably felt they had a chance to position themselves for tomorrow’s final round. Humid, overcast conditions with just the gentlest of breezes provided a layout that was there for the taking and the quality of the players in this field were not about to let us down. Anything was possible and so it was to prove.
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Blumenherst was the first to make a statement with two quick birdies to move to 11 under but despite her good start she was immediately under siege from the defending champion Hull. Hull birdied three of her first four holes to move within one of the American.
rnBefore long however it would be both Blumenherst and Hull who were under siege. Blumenherst was joined in the lead by the six time champion Webb when the Australian birdied the 8th hole but soon after it would be two Koreans who would stake their claim for a piece of the action.
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Ryu birdied the 9th to move to 11 under and nearly an hour ahead on the golf course the 22 year old Bo-Mee Lee would close with a final nine of 30 for a round of 63 and at 14 under she had a one shot lead as she walked from the golf course. Webb birdied four of her last six holes however to move ahead and with Hull unable to secure the one extra birdie she needed over the final three holes to earn a share of the lead, Webb takes the third round lead into round four.
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Hull was delighted with her improved attitude on the golf course today. “I got a little too intense yesterday and last night sat down with my coach Steve and my caddy Vern and both told me to take it a little easier on myself today. I’m going to go out there tomorrow and give it everything I’ve got,” added Hull referring to a final round, final group match up with Webb for the first time in their respective careers."
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In a share of fourth position and two shots behind Webb are the Korean LPGA Tour’s number one and two players in 2009, So Yeon Ryu and Hee-Kyung Seo. Both are genuine chances to become the second Korean to win this title after Amy Yang’s victory in 2006. Like Webb it was a swing thought last night via he coach in Korea that got things back on track today. “It was a ball position thing but I had a tip from my coach and it really worked well. The hooks were fixed.”
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Third round leader, Blumenherst, began to tread water after her fast start and at 11 under is four behind Webb and shares that position with the leading world ranked player in the field, Ya-Ni Tseng, whose round of 67 moved her to the edge of contention. It will take something quite special by Tseng and Blumenherst tomorrow but she is definitely not out of it.
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Webb summed it up best. “This golf course is set up in such a way that anyone could shoot 63 tomorrow.” If that is the case then this will be one of the great final days at the ANZ Ladies Masters.
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Story by Bruce Young – Photos by Paul Melville
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