Nordqvist takes lead into final round at Safeway

August 30, 2009

Rookie Anna Nordqvist shot a 3-under 69 to take a 1-shot lead over Seon Hwa Lee and Ai Miyazato going into the final round of the Safeway Classic on Saturday.

Nordqvist, who won the U.S. LPGA Championship this year in just her fifth professional tournament, was at 10-under 134 after the first two rounds at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

Miyazato had three straight birdies on Nos. 8-10, all par-5 holes, to climb up the leaderboard with a 68, while Lee sank a birdie putt on the par-4 18th hole and wound up with a 70.

Ominous clouds and a few heavy downpours passed over the course west of Portland. In the afternoon, the U.S. Air Forces Thunderbirds roared nearby as part of their performance for the Oregon International Air Show.

Nordqvist, from Sweden, was her usual unflappable self, following up bogeys on the eighth and 14th holes with birdies.

I just kept hanging in there, she said.

Lee, a South Korean who won twice on the tour last year but has yet to have a victory this season, joked about her strategy for Sundays round.

My plan for tomorrow is to hit the fairways, hit the greens and make putts, she said with a giggle.

Miyazato won on the U.S. tour for the first time at the Evian Masters in July.

Michele Redman (69) and Suzann Pettersen (68) were at 8 under.

Beth Bader, who led by a stroke after the first round, had a 73 and was three shots off the pace at 7 under. Bader opened with a 64, her best round since 2007 and her best start at a tournament since the season opener in 2003.

Defending champion Cristie Kerr had a 70, while Michelle Wie shot a 71. Each goes into the final round at 5 under. Both were on the U.S. Solheim Cup team that defeated Europe last weekend.

Before Saturdays round got under way, Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak withdrew for undisclosed reasons. She shot a 69 on Friday.