Inbee Park leads at HSBC Women’s Champions

Inbee Park shot a four-under-par 68 to take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore on Saturday.

Park had four birdies in a bogey-free round at Sentosa Golf Club to sit at 13-under 203, two strokes ahead of top-ranked Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis, who both shot 67.

“I gave myself a lot of opportunities,” said Park, who is seeking her 13th LPGA victory. “I didn’t make all of them, but I was able to handle myself out there being patient out there and no bogeys is a really great result.”

Anna Nordqvist had a 68 and was tied for fourth with Suzann Pettersen and Azahara Munoz, four strokes off the pace.

The 17-year-old Ko is bidding for her seventh career LPGA victory and her third win in as many weeks. She won the Women’s Australian Open two weeks ago and the Women’s New Zealand Open last week.

“That would be I guess a dream three weeks,” Ko said. “But I’m just going to try my best. The girls are playing good golf and it’s a tough course. Just one shot can cost you a couple.”

Lewis is third in the world rankings behind Ko and Park.

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Trevor Fisher Jr. will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Africa Open after a superb nine-under 63 in East London, South Africa.

Fisher is in pole position to maintain South Africa’s dominance at the European Tour event after seven straight wins for home players. He had seven birdies and an eagle at East London Golf Club to move to 16-under 200.

Fisher overtook Englishman Matt Ford at the top of the leaderboard. Ford was still solid with his third-round 69 to stay in contention for the title two shots back. Another South African, Jaco van Zyl, was third on 12 under. There’s a four-way tie for fourth at 10 under, made up of Eduardo de la Riva, John Parry, Jorge Campillo and Morten Orum Madsen.