Wegmans - 3rd Round

Jiyai Shin posted a 67 to open up a four-shot lead going into the final round of the Wegmans LPGA.  Morgan Pressel is in second place at -12, Stacy Lewis is third at -11 and Lindsey Wright and Sandra Gal are tied for fourth at -10.

No delays today - the weather was perfect with a breeze of 10-15mph.  Shin played the front nine in even par, allowing Pressel to draw even with a birdie at 8.  Lewis started with birdies at 1 and 3 but gave the shots back with bogeys at 4 and 6.  A birdie at 7 put Stacy at -10 as the last group made the turn.  Playing just in front of them, Gal went out in 32 to also reach -10.  A rocky mid-back-nine stalled out Sandra for the second straight day - bogeys at 12 and 14 negated birdies at 13 and 18 as she finished up -10.  Wright moved into contention with her own front-nine 32 and she followed that with two birdies on the back to end at -10 as well.

Shin began to take charge at 10 when she chipped in for a birdie to regain the lead at -12.  Another shot was gained when at the par-5 11^th, Jiyai's third stopped a foot from the hole.  Lewis stayed close, moving to -12 when she pitched in for eagle at that same hole.  Stacy had several good birdie chances on the back but never got any of them to fall and when she bogeyed 18, she was -11.  Pressel's only non-par down the stretch was a birdie at 17, so birdies by Shin at 16 and 17 doubled her final overnight margin.

Shooting themselves out of contention were Kristy McPherson (76 -4 T21), Michelle Wie (75 -4 T21) and Jennifer Rosales (74 -4 T21).  The only player to make up any ground on Jiyai during Round Three was Haeji Kang, who fired a career-best 65 and stands T7 -8.  Tied with Haeji are fellow rookies Mika Miyazato (67 today) and Mindy Kim, giving us five rookies in the top nine.  Sun Young Yoo is alone in sixth place at -9 but is seven shots behind.  Shin will have to give a couple of shots back to bring anyone outside the last four twosomes back into contention. 

There is a 40% chance of rain tomorrow, which I will regard as a 60% chance that the round will not be interrupted.  The final group goes off at 12:30 so ESPN2's coverage will be tape-delayed - hopefully the only delay we'll have.