Kim opens three shot lead

Seeking her second win in the Buckeye State in three weeks, South Korea's Mi Hyun Kim shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday to forge a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Wendy's Championship for Children.

Kim won the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic two weeks ago in Youngstown, Ohio, for her fourth victory in as many years on tour.

She began the day at 4 under after an opening 68, three strokes behind leader Mhairi McKay.

While the rest of the field was having difficulty with the hard, fast fairways and greens and temperatures approaching 100, Kim found a groove. After parring the first three holes, she birdied holes 4, 7 and 8 -- lipping out a 2-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole.

Consecutive birdies at the 12th and 13th holes expanded her lead and gave her a cushion coming down the stretch.

Kim's bogey-free 67 left her at 9-under 135.

She will try to preserve a lead heading into the final round for the first time since blowing a five-shot lead at Rochester six weeks ago. In that tournament, she ballooned to a 74 to lose by a shot to Karrie Webb.

Kim won the Giant Eagle by overcoming Kelly Robbins down the stretch.

In the sweltering heat at Tartan Fields Golf Club, her challengers fell back one by one.

Ohio native Michele Redman was in second place and within three shots until her 8-iron into the par-3 17th came up short and splashed into the pond fronting the green. She ended up with a double-bogey, shooting a 72 that left her at 140.

Even when Kim faltered, she always seemed to make a shot she needed.

She came up with a big save on the par-3 15th when, after hitting into the back bunker, she blasted 15 feet past the pin and hit the comeback putt.

Kim followed a similar script on the par-3 17th, her shot to the front of the green bounding all the way through the green and into the back bunker again. She again blasted out and made the putt.

Danielle Ammaccapane, who followed a first-round 73 with a 65, was alone in second at 138. She started the day tied for 37th and eight shots back but made up ground with seven birdies in a bogey-free round.

Ammaccapane has gotten used to posting low rounds in Ohio. She shot a career-low 62 in the final round of the Jamie Farr three weeks ago, then opened with a 65 at the Giant Eagle. She tied for seventh at the Farr and 10th at the Giant Eagle.

South Korea's Hee-Won Han shot a 66 to move into third place at 139, four shots back.

Former Ohio State golfer Rosie Jones led the pack at 3 under, following an opening 66 with a 75 that included four bogeys and a birdie.

U.S. Open champion Juli Inkster shot a 71 and was at 144.

McKay struggled all day with the speed of the greens, and shot an 80 to stand at 145.

Seventy-nine pros and one amateur -- reigning NCAA medalist Virada Nirapathpongporn from Duke -- made the cut of 6-over 150.

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