Matthew edges a shot clear

Catriona Matthew of Scotland shot her third straight round of 2-under-par 70 on Saturday and has a one-stroke lead over Meg Mallon in the Bank of Montreal Canadian Women's Open.

Matthew birdied the final two holes with putts of 25 feet and 12 feet to move to 6-under 210 for the tournament.

"It was just great to hole two putts on the last two holes and get in with the lead," said Matthew, who again had four birdies and two bogeys. "There are a lot of good players just kind of lurking behind me."

Matthew joined the LPGA Tour in 1995 and did not break through for a victory until last year, when she won the Hawaiian Ladies Open. She finished 10th on the money list in 2001 and is 29th this year.

Mallon fired a 69 on Saturday, but finished her round with a bogey on 18.

"I hit 15 greens today, but on the last hole I missed it," Mallon said. "I hit a pitch and run and had one probably at about 12 feet and missed that. Made a bogey there. That was my only one of the day."

With nine come-from-behind wins in her 13 Tour victories, including this event in 2000, Mallon is well positioned for another win here.

"I love Montreal," Mallon said. "I have dear friends that have lived here a long time, so I always relax here and enjoy visiting with them. It feels like home a bit."

Se Ri Pak shot a 68 and is tied with fellow South Korean Gloria Park and Australian Michelle Ellis at 3-under. Park and Ellis each carded a 73.

Australian Karrie Webb and Charlotte Sorenstam of Sweden are tied at 2-under. Webb won last week's Women's British Open.

The wind was again a major factor on Saturday at the 6,435-yard Sumerlea Golf and Country Club course and the forecast for Sunday is for isolated showers and thunderstorms by late morning with wind gusts of 25 miles per hour.

"Anybody within seven shots of the lead has a chance if the wind comes up," Ellis said. "This is one of those courses."

Pak started five strokes off the pace and had three straight birdies on the back nine to move to 4-under for the day. However, she bogeyed the 17th after missing a 7-foot putt for par.

"I was mad at the time, but that's the way golf is," Pak said of her bogey on 17. "I still have one day left. I feel good about that."

Park began the day in a three-way tie for the lead with Matthew and Ellis, but bogeyed three of her first four holes. She came back with four birdies at the turn, but then bogeyed 12 and 14.

"I thought I hung in there," Park said. "I'm still in good shape, I think. The golf course is really tough."

First-round leader Kate Golden followed a 74 with a 75 and is even for the tournament.

Matthew started slowly with a bogey at the par-4 first, needing two putts to chip from six feet. She bounced back with a birdie on the par-4 fourth with a 6-iron to 15 feet. After bogeying the par-4 12th with a 6-iron that bounced over the green, she birdied the par-5 14th and closed with back-to-back birdies.

Mallon started the day with a birdie on the par-4 first with a 5-iron to 25 feet. She also birdied two par-5s, hitting a 9-iron to 18 feet on No. 11 and a 53 degree sand wedge to four feet on No. 14. Mallon also birdied the 181-yard par-3 17th with a 5-iron to 15 feet before bogeying the final hole.

Defending champion Annika Sorenstam is playing a European event and is not entered.

First prize is $180,000.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page