Meunier-Lebouc Faces a Big Test

Patricia Meunier-Lebouc is chasing her second major title of the year -- the Women’s British Open at Lytham St. Annes.

Meunier-Lebouc, who is 10 weeks into her first pregnancy, shot a five-under-par 67 Saturday to lead Se Ri Pak and Wendy Ward by one stroke after three rounds. She is at 10-under 206.

Pak, a former champion and four-time major winner, and Ward each carded a 69 for 207. And Meunier-Lebouc also will have to hold off Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb.

Sorenstam, who won this year’s LPGA Championship, is at 208 while Webb, the defending champion, is at 209.

Meunier-Lebouc was tested at the Kraft Nabisco in March. She led by two strokes halfway through and by three after the third round. She beat Sorenstam by one shot.

“I know it’s tough to be leading in a major championship, but I’ve been that already in the one that I won,” she said.

She birdied four of the first five holes and then added an eagle-three at the sixth where her three-wood second shot wound up five feet from the hole.

Heather Bowie led by two strokes entering the day in her bid for her first pro title. But she tumbled from the leaderboard when she lost her ball at the 11th hole and took a double-bogey seven. She finished at 210, sharing sixth place.

Sorenstam, a winner of five majors, had a 68 to move into contention. Webb, with six majors, shot a 70.

That means there are winners of a combined 16 majors in the top five on the leaderboard entering today’s final round in which Sorenstam and Pak will be playing partners.

Sorenstam eagled the par-five sixth by chipping in from 20 feet and added two more birdies in a bogey-free round.

“I’m back where I want to be -- having a chance to win the British Open,” said Sorenstam. “I think right now I’m in the perfect spot. I will have played the same holes before which is a good thing.”

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U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk made a 48-foot putt for birdie to cap a seven-under 65 and take the lead at the Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Mich. After three rounds he is at 17-under 199, four shots ahead of Tiger Woods.

“I was just trying to roll it up there close and I got a bonus when it went in,” Furyk said of his spectacular putt on 18. “That leaves a nice taste in my mouth.”

In all, Furyk made six birdies. The last time he led after 54 holes was at the U.S. Open.

Carl Paulson is one shot behind Furyk after shooting a 65. Neal Lancaster is at 15 under.

Kenny Perry, Paul Goydos, Paul Gow and second-round leader Chris DiMarco, who shot a 71, are three shots off the lead. Woods is among three players at 13 under.

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Allen Doyle shot a tournament-record eight-under-par 63 -- including a 29 on the front nine -- to take the lead at 11-under 131 after two rounds of the FleetBoston Classic at Concord, Mass.

Defending champion Bob Gilder shot a 65 to move to nine-under 133 and into a tie for second with James Mason, who was five under for the day. First-round leader Bruce Fleisher was among five tied at seven under.