Tina Barrett is poised to end a long drought.

Barrett's only career victory on the LPGA Tour came in 1989 at Cranston, R.I. After firing a 2-under-par 70 in today's third round of the Michelob Light Classic, she's in position to win again. Her 10-under par score of 206 leads the pack by a shot.

"To win would mean a great deal to me," Barrett said. "It's hard to put into words. But if I'm able to do it, I'll be happy to come in here and try tomorrow."

Lorie Kane and Nancy Scranton were one shot behind Barrett, with Lisa Kiggens and defending champion Annika Sorenstam two shots back.

Barrett took the first-round lead with a career-best 8-under 64 on the 6,337-yard Forest Hills Country Club course. An even-par 72 Friday dropped her a shot back of Kiggens.

Early in today's round, Kiggens built the lead to two when she eagled the 460-yard par-5 fifth hole for the second consecutive day to go 10-under. After 10 straight pars, Kiggens gave back two strokes when she bogeyed the 560-yard 16th and the 365-yard 17th.

Barrett began to move again when she made a 25-footer for birdie on the 163-yard, par-3 13th hole. Barrett birdied the next par-3, No. 15, by making a 20-footer to get to 10-under.

"I'm a conservative person by nature, but I would like to be a smidge more aggressive with my putter," Barrett said.

Looming as always at Forest Hills is Sorenstam, who is looking for her first victory in 1999.

The LPGA has been coming to St. Louis for the past five years, and Sorenstam has won three of the events. She followed her 1995 U.S. Open victory with her first St. Louis triumph.

"I'd rather be leading, but I'm very happy with the way I played," Sorenstam said. "Mentally, I have a lot of confidence. I know this course so well, and I think that's very important."

Five strokes back of Barrett were Dale Eggeling and Susan Ginter at 5-under. Ginter made the shot of the day, a hole-in-one on the 137-yard seventh hole with a 9-iron.

AP