Park maintains one shot lead

South Korea's Grace Park shot a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday to maintain a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Kathy Ireland Greens.com Classic.

Park, the 21-year-old former Arizona State star in her first season on the LPGA tour, had a 12-under 204 total on Wachesaw Plantation's East course.
"I like where I am and I don't feel any pressure," Park said. "I guess I have been in this position before, just not here on the LPGA Tour. I am the rookie coming up and I am not really scared of anyone person behind me. I have no fear. I am just going to play the game and hope that it is there tomorrow."

Park, the 1998 U.S. Amateur champion, was even on the front nine, offsetting birdies on Nos. 3 and 6 with bogeys on Nos. 5 and 8. She birdied Nos. 10 and 17 to reach 12 under.

"I didn't play all that great, but I think I had the best putting day yet," said Park, who had only 24 putts. "The back was not so good out there putting, but there were so many good ones on the front."

Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst, each seeking their second victory of the season, shot 68s to share second place at 205.

"I just think that you just have to stay patient out there on this course and you will be in good shape," said Inkster, a five-time winner last year who won the Longs Drug Challenge in April.

Hurst won the Electrolux USA Championship three weeks ago.

"The shots on to the greens are just setting up good for the birdie opportunities and I have really been able to capitalize on some for them," Hurst said.

Michelle McGann (70), Cristie Kerr (71) and Kristal Parker (72) followed at 207, and Dottie Pepper (68), England's Karen Stupples (69) and Sweden's Liselotte Neumann (72) were next at 209.

Parker closed with a triple-bogey 7.

She received a free drop after hitting her drive near a drainage ditch, but hit her second shot into the trees to the right of the green. She then hit a root with her third shot, imbedding the ball in the ground. After taking a penalty stroke for the unplayable lie, she chipped onto the green and two-putted for 7.

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