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Miyazato in place for first major win at LPGA Championship

Posted on: Saturday, 10 June 2006, 20:30 CDT

HAVRE DE GRACE, Maryland (Reuters) - Japan's Ai Miyazato raised hopes of winning a major title in her rookie season on the US-based Tour after taking a share of the third- round lead with American Pat Hurst in the storm-delayed LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in Maryland.

Miyazato had a fine three-under-par 69 in the windy conditions, while Hurst joined her on seven under 209 after a 72 to finish a shot clear of the field.

U.S. teenager Michelle Wie birdied the 18th for a 71 and was in a three-way tie for third place on six under alongside two South Koreans, Ahn Shi Hyun and Kim Mi Hyun.

Another South Korean, Pak Se Ri, continued her return to form with a 71 for five under, and Australia's Karrie Webb, winner of the season's first major at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April, was on four under after a 72.

But world No.1 Annika Sorenstam, who had a two-shot penalty for a rules infringement at the second, slipped to a 75 and was six off the lead.

Miyazato, 20, who has won 11 times in the last two seasons on her home Japanese LPGA Tour, had four birdies in her 69.

"I felt very comfortable out there today, holed a few putts. Tomorrow, I'm just going to go out tomorrow and try and play my own game. I would love to win this Championship."

Hurst had chances to take the outright lead coming down the stretch, and is the most experienced of the top five.

"I've learned to be patient," said the 37-year-old, who had completed eight holes of her weather-delayed second round 71 before lunch.

"I had a few chances out there, but I'm very happy with the way I played. It was a long day and very windy."

Sorenstam birdied the opening hole to get to within two of the lead when she was hit by the penalty for a rules breach at the long second.

Having split the fairway with her tee shot at the 555-yard hole, she picked up a piece of a divot from beside her ball and threw it away.

LPGA official Angus MacKenzie confirmed the Swede had broken rule 13-2 which forbids the removal of anything that improves the lie of the ball.

"She put the divot back, but by then it was too late," said MacKenzie.

"You are not allowed to touch anything that could be deemed to improve the lie."

Sorenstam admitted it was a mistake.

"Karrie (Webb) told me I couldn't do it, but I thought it looked as though somebody had grabbed some turf and just stuck it down. It was totally loose.

"But it was my fault and I tried to forget it and it had nothing to do with my score. I hit some horrible shots and I'm not getting any breaks. But I'll still give it my all tomorrow"

Wie, one off the lead at halfway, showed some shaky form on the back nine, hitting only two fairways and missing a tiny par putt at the short 17th.

But she also made some scrambling saves and holed a 12-foot putt for birdie at the 18th.

"I was a bit miffed after missing the short putt at 17, but the birdie at the last sets me up for tomorrow," admitted the 16-year-old, who was second behind Sorenstam last year.

"I did miss a few shots out there but this course owes me a good round."

Source: REUTERS

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