RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Stacy Lewis’ three-shot lead dwindled to a single stroke after just four holes Saturday, and it vanished entirely after the turn.
Nearly every time Lewis missed an opportunity, Yani Tseng jumped all over her — to the delight of Tseng’s sizable cheering section.
Lewis learned just how tough it’ll be to get between the world’s top-ranked player and a rare repeat victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Tseng roared into the lead with a third-round 66, moving two shots ahead of Lewis in the LPGA Tour’s first major of the year.
“I just want to keep smiling all day tomorrow and have a lot of fun,” Tseng said. “I did it before, so I just want to do it again.”
Tseng showed a defending champion’s confidence with her aggressive, powerful play at Mission Hills, shooting the round’s low score to move to 12-under-par 204. She erased playing partner Lewis’ three- shot lead in the first seven holes before going ahead on the 11th.
Morgan Pressel (69) was four shots off the lead in third place. Michelle Wie (69) was six strokes back in fourth, staying in the hunt for her first major title.
Mickelson goes low
HUMBLE, Texas — Phil Mickelson shot his lowest round in two years, tying the course record with a 9-under 63 to join Scott Verplank atop the leaderboard through three rounds of the Houston Open.
“To get a good round like this means a lot,” said Mickelson, who will defend his Masters title next weekend. “I think it’s good for me to be in that position heading into next week.”
Verplank, coping with soreness in his left wrist, shot his second straight 65 to catch Mickelson at 13-under par.
Aaron Baddeley (66) and second-round leader Chris Kirk (69) were one stroke back, and defending champion Anthony Kim and David Hearn (66) were two behind.
Lehman leads by a stroke
SAUCIER, Miss. — Tom Lehman broke the course record by shooting an 8-under 64, taking a one-stroke lead over Jeff Sluman (66) after the second round of the Champion Tour’s Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic.
Davis tops European event
AGADIR, Morocco — Defending champion Rhys Davies of Wales recovered from a poor start to shoot a 4-under 68 and share the lead with England’s David Horsey (67) after the third round at the Trophee Hassan II.
