Estill maintains one shot lead

Michelle Estill is in unfamiliar territory, atop the leaderboard on the weekend. So far, she's handling it well, even in the face of the world's top female golfer.

Playing in the final twosome with Annika Sorenstam, Estill matched the Swedish star stroke for stroke on Saturday and calmly rolled in a 4-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to gain a one-shot lead over Sorenstam after three rounds at the Corning Classic.

"Wow!" It's just exciting to be here," said Estill, who finished at 15-under 201 and will begin the final day of a tournament in first place for the first time since she joined the LPGA Tour in 1991.

"I guess I should say that's the greatest thing, but to be honest, I'm just happy to be here."

And why not? After blowing a four-shot lead and falling behind by a stroke on the back nine, Estill slowly fought back as Sorenstam struggled. Both finished at 70, and Estill remained where she was when the day started -- alone in the lead.

"I think I'm OK in that role," said Estill, whose lone LPGA victory came during her rookie year. "Mentally, I felt really good out there. Hopefully, I can keep it rolling."

Sorenstam was three strokes ahead of Vicki Goetze-Ackerman. Shi Hyun Ahn, whose 66 was the lowest round on a cool, windy day, was alone in fourth at 10-under 206, one shot ahead of Natalie Gulbis and Denise Killeen.

Three former Corning winners -- Laura Diaz, Carin Koch, and Kelli Kuehne -- and Nadina Taylor were tied for seventh at 208. Defending champion Juli Inkster skied to a 73 and was out of contention, 12 shots off the lead.

Estill began the day with a one-shot lead, but that quickly vanished when Sorentam eagled the second hole, a friendly 446-yard par-5 that yielded 22 eagles over the first two rounds.

Undeterred, Estill built a four-stroke lead with a birdie at No. 8 as Sorenstam struggled with three bogeys over the final four holes on the front nine.

"It's just one of those days where it just didn't feel right," Sorenstam said. "Unfortunately, you have one of those days once in a while."

Estill created her own problems at the par-4 ninth hole when her tee shot sailed under the trees lining the right side of the fairway. After punching out, her third shot sailed over the green into some bushes into an unplayable lie and she made triple bogey.

Sorenstam only gained two shots on the hole after a three-putt bogey but sank a birdie putt at No. 10 to go back to 12 under, pumping her right fist as the ball fell in the hole. Seconds later, it was Estill's turn to smile as she drained a 15-foot birdie putt to maintain a two-shot advantage.

Sorenstam moved within one shot with a birdie at 12 and gained the lead on the next hole when she chipped in from 20 feet off the fringe for birdie and Estill bogeyed.

It was a five-shot swing in only five holes, but Estill didn't wilt again. Both players parred the next hole and birdied the par-3 15th hole despite a tough pin placement.

Sorenstam encountered more trouble at 16 when her second shot clipped the tops of the trees lining the right side of the fairway. She chipped onto the green, but had to settle for bogey when her 8-foot putt for par didn't fall. Estill then calmly rolled in a short par putt to forge a tie at 14 under.

If Sorenstam's putter had been clicking as it was the first two days, she would have finished with her third straight round in the 60s. She also missed a 5-foot par putt at No. 6 and a 7-footer for par on the next hole.

"I'm just glad that with a day like today that I didn't throw away the tournament because I'm right in there still," said Sorenstam, who has 50 victories in her 10-year LPGA career. "I can't speak for Michelle, but that's all that matters to me is to be right there. I've got a chance tomorrow."

Estill could only smile at her good fortune.

"Today was a gift," she said. "If it's your turn, it's your turn. If it isn't, that's all right, too."

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