Shin takes lead at Women’s U.S. Open

A marathon day ended with a loud crack of thunder, but not before Lorena Ochoa and Cristie Kerr charged up the leaderboard Saturday at the U.S. Women’s Open in Southern Pines, N.C.

Ji-Yai Shin, 19, birdied the last hole she played before darkness set in and showers pelted Pine Needles a short time later. She was at five under par through 10 holes, one shot ahead of Ochoa, Kerr and 36-hole leader Angela Park of Torrance.

Ochoa made two birdies on the first three holes, and consecutive birdies around the turn. Kerr was five under through 13 holes. One shot behind at three under was Morgan Pressel.

“I really like my position,” said Ochoa, seeking her first major title. “It was important to go low in the third round. We still have a lot of holes left, but I like where I am right now. Tomorrow’s going to be a special day.”

After storm delays the first two days, 131 players had to finish the second round Saturday, and only four of the 67 players who made the cut finished the third round.

Defending champion Annika Sorenstam was nine shots behind with six holes remaining in her third round. Michelle Wie withdrew after shooting a 42 on her first nine holes of the second round.

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Tom Pernice Jr. shot a six-under 66 to take the third-round lead at Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Mich. Jesper Parnevik (64), Scott Verplank (69) and Brian Bateman (69) were a shot back.

Jim Furyk (71), Kenny Perry (71) and Woody Austin (69) were in a group of five players only two strokes behind Pernice, who is at 13-under 203.

Parnevik made the big move, going from a tie for 46th into a tie for second.

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Lonnie Nielsen had a stretch of five birdies in seven holes on the back nine, and his seven-under 64 gave him three-stroke lead over Tom McKnight after two rounds of the Commerce Bank Championship at East Meadow, N.Y.

Nielsen had a 12-under 130 total. McKnight shot a five-under 66. Jay Sigel (66) and defending champion John Harris (67) are tied for third at eight-under 134.

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Brett Kanda of La Crescenta shot a one-under 70 to take a five-shot lead after three rounds of the 108th Southern California Golf Assn. amateur championship at Victoria Club in Riverside. Kanda is at nine-under 204. Justin Pitts (68) of Bakersfield and Erik Jarvey (69) of Palmdale are at 209.