Song leads on her 18th birthday

Aree Song celebrated her 18th birthday by hanging on to the lead.

To earn a place in history, all the teenager has to do is hold off Annika Sorenstam and everyone else on a daunting leaderboard at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.

Song shot a 2-under-par 70 in the third round Saturday, giving herself a chance to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history.

It won't be easy.

Sorenstam, the world's No. 1 player, is just two strokes behind heading into the final round at Eagle's Landing Country Club south of Atlanta. So are Grace Park, who won the first major of the year, and Se Ri Pak, the defending Chick-fil-A champion.

"Hopefully, I'll do well," Song said. "I've been around the lead quite a few times, not just on the LPGA Tour but in amateur golf. Hopefully, I can fall back on those experiences."

She certainly seems to be relishing the idea of growing up in public.

Song showed up Saturday wearing a shirt that had "I'm 18 and Excited" emblazoned across the front. Her hat carried the logo "Birthday Girl." After finishing her second straight round without a bogey, she lit the candles on a chocolate cake sent by her agent.

Before blowing them out, Song paused and smiled. "Anybody know what I'm going to wish for?"

If she hangs on for another 18 holes -- weather permitting -- Song would become the youngest LPGA winner ever. Hall of Famer Marlene Hagge was 18 years, 14 days old when she won the Sarasota Open in 1952.

Song isn't out of place. She was runner-up to Park at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and finished fifth at the 2003 U.S. Women's Open as an amateur.

The weather is an issue. Forecasters said up to an inch of rain could fall on Sunday, though they have struggled all weekend to make an accurate call.

On Saturday, for instance, an ominous forecast prompted officials to send off everyone in the morning from both the first and 10th tees. It drizzled off and on, but there were no delays.

"We've really been lucky with the weather," Sorenstam said. "I think this is the first time I've ever played 54 straight holes here without being interrupted."

But Song holds the best position. If the final round is washed out, she would win by default.

"My caddy mentioned that after the 17th hole," Park said. "He told me it looks like the weather is really bad, so let's make sure we finish strong and be on top of the leaderboard."

Unfortunately for Park, she yanked her drive at 18 into the lake and took bogey on the short par 5.

Song hasn't made any major mistakes, going 40 straight holes without a bogey. She played like a veteran with the lead, sandwiching two birdies among 16 pars for an 11-under 205 total.

"I didn't make quite as many putts as I did" during a second-round 66, Song said. "But I kept the ball in play."

Mi Hyun Kim, a five-time Tour winner, stands between Song and the elite group at 9 under. Kim shot 67 for a 206, despite struggling with a course that was softened considerably by overnight rains.

Sorenstam put up a 67 to get in position for her third LPGA win of the year. If a few more putts had fallen, she would have gone even lower.

On the back nine alone, Sorenstam stood over seven birdie putts that were no longer than 10 feet. She missed three of them.

Sorenstam also three-putted 12 for her only bogey, revealing a brief bit of frustration as she walked off the green. She flicked her ball in the air and feigned taking a whack at it before pulling back.

It didn't take long to pull herself together.

With a freight train rumbling nearby, Sorenstam began her charge with a booming drive at 14, leading to a chip and short birdie putt.

"I had opportunities all along the way," she said. "I made a few and missed a few."

Sorenstam began the season hoping to win the Grand Slam, an accomplishment that might have persuaded her to retire so she could start a family.

"It's totally something I would have considered," the 33-year-old Sorenstam said. "But that thought didn't last very long."

Her plan fell apart in the first major. Sorenstam was never a serious contender at the Nabisco, where she tied for 13th. She has won her other three tournaments this year -- two on the LPGA Tour and another event in Australia.

Park, who won the Nabisco by one stroke over Song, shot 71 and was in tie for third (207) with Sorenstam, Pak, Rachel Teske, Lorena Ochoa and Becky Morgan.

"I don't care who's up there," Park said. "When I look at the leaderboard, I see the names but I don't care if it's Joe Schmo or Annika Sorenstam. I'm not going to be intimidated."

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