Teenager Min takes LPGA lead with 65

Hardly anyone recognized the name Na On Min on the leaderboard, and even more surprising was the number of birdies she strung together Saturday at the LPGA Championship at Havre de Grace, Md.

When the 18-year-old from South Korea finished a seven-under-par 65, she was poised to make a name for herself in the record books.

Playing in only her sixth professional tournament and her first major championship, Min ran off four birdies on the last six holes for the best round this week at Bulle Rock, giving her a one-shot lead over Suzann Pettersen and a chance to become the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history.

Only 10 weeks ago, Morgan Pressel became the tour’s youngest major champion by winning the Kraft Nabisco. Pressel was a decorated amateur, however, and nearly won the U.S. Women’s Open two years earlier.

Min didn’t even learn to play golf until she was 12.

“I’m just really excited,” said Min, who was at 10-under 206. “This is my first major. I’ll do my best to keep focus on each shot.”

Karrie Webb stayed in the mix with a 10-foot par save on the 17th hole and shot 71. She was two shots behind at 208, along with Angela Park (68), another 18-year-old rookie.

Michelle Wie finished before the leaders even arrived, and left unanswered whether she would return. She shot 83, her highest score against men or women since she was in the ninth grade, and was in last place. Her left wrist, which she broke during a fall in late January, clearly bothered her and Wie wrapped it in ice after signing her card.

“I really want to play,” she said. “I just have to see how it goes tonight.”

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Adam Scott has put himself in position to head to the U.S. Open as a wire-to-wire winner with a three-stroke lead through three rounds of the Stanford St. Jude Championship, shooting a two-under 68 at the stingy TPC Southwind course at Memphis, Tenn.

Scott won the Houston Open the week before the Masters, where he tied for 27th. He is at nine-under 201 through 54 holes.

Two-time Memphis winner David Toms shot a 66 and was six under along with Brian Gay (70). Toms will be paired with Scott in the final group today but didn’t expect an advantage from fans because of his long association with this event.

John Daly, who overshadowed Scott’s steady performance Friday when he accused his wife of waking him up that morning by attacking him with a steak knife, shot a 75.

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Champions Tour money leader Jay Haas strung together six birdies in seven holes and widened his lead to three strokes after two rounds in the Principal Charity Classic at West Des Moines, Iowa.

Haas, bidding for his third win of the season, shot a 31 on the back nine and finished at four-under 67 for a 10-under 132 total. David Edwards (68) was second.