Lee needs low round for second win

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Australia's Minjee Lee dropped from second to eighth after a disappointing third round in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in San Francisco today, and needs a low score tomorrow to have a chance of a second consecutive tournament win.

Nineteen-year-old Lee played in the final group with overnight leader Haru Nomura of Japan, the winner of this year's ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open in Adelaide, but was outplayed.

The Perth teenager shot a third-round 74 and at four-under-par is six shots behind Nomura, who retains the lead at 10-under after a 71 today.

Lee shot a final-round 64 in Hawaii last weekend to win her second LPGA Tour event and rise to No. 12 in the world. But she was below her best today with four bogeys and some missed opportunities, notably at the last where she wedged to just over a metre but missed the birdie putt. It was a sour finish to a tough day.

 World No. 1 Lydia Ko is among the contenders at four-under, also six behind Nomura. Victorian Su Oh, who pre-qualified for the event, remains in the top 20 after a third-round of 74.

 In Texas, veteran Aaron Baddeley is the best-placed Australian at tied-12th in the Valero Texas Open after a fine, third-round 66.

 Baddeley, who has only limited playing rights on the US PGA Tour, has rediscovered some of his best golf.

 Another veteran Stuart Appleby dropped back after two good rounds with a 74, sliding from tied-second to 17th.

 

Ricky Barnes of the United States leads by a shot going into the final round.