South Korea’s Oh Ji-young and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen fired three-under par 69s on Saturday to share a one-shot lead after three rounds of the US$2 million LPGA Sybase Classic.
They topped the leader-board on 12-under 204, while American Brittany Lincicome, who started the day with a two-shot lead over Pettersen and Oh, was one back on 205 after an even-par 72.
Taiwan’s Candie Kung was alone on a seven-under 209. Compatriot Amy Hung was in a group at 212 and Yani Tseng trailed at on-par 216.
PHOTO: REUTERS
■TEXAS OPEN
REUTERS, HOUSTON
Defender Zach Johnson posted a brilliant 10-under-par 60 to surge into a three-shot lead in Saturday’s weather-marred third round of the Texas Open in San Antonio.
Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, thrived in the conditions and posted eight birdies and an eagle for 60 and a 15-under-par 195 total.
The American missed a chance to register 59 when he two-putted from 20 feet at the 18th.
Paul Goydos was even-par through 12 holes to stand 12-under for the tournament along with fellow American playing partner Justin Leonard, who was three-under for the round.
■IRISH OPEN
AFP, DROGHEDA, IRELAND
Ireland’s Shane Lowry continued to defy his amateur status with a solid third round 71 that kept him in the lead, albeit shared, of the Irish Open, with 18 holes to play.
The 22-year-old Lowry is now joint leader with England’s Robert Rock. Some of the circuit’s bigger names struggled in comparison on the links course; Lee Westwood, Paul Lawrie and Paul McGinley all shot 77, Rory McIlroy a 76 and Welshman Jamie Donaldson, joint second at halfway, a 78.
■MAEKYUNG OPEN
AFP, SEOUL
South Korea’s Bae Sang-moon fended off a strong challenge from compatriot Ted Oh to win the GS Caltex Maekyung Open yesterday.
North Korea’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup-winning team on Saturday received a heroes’ welcome back in the capital, Pyongyang, with hundreds of people on the streets to celebrate their success. They had defeated Spain on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the U17 World Cup final in the Dominican Republic on Nov. 3. It was the second global title in two months for secretive North Korea — largely closed off to the outside world; they also lifted the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in September. Officials and players’ families gathered at Pyongyang International Airport to wave flowers and North Korea flags as the
Taiwan’s top table tennis player Lin Yun-ju made his debut in the US professional table tennis scene by taking on a new role as a team’s co-owner. On Wednesday, Major League Table Tennis (MLTT), founded in September last year, announced on its official Web site that Lin had become part of the ownership group of the Princeton Revolution, one of the league’s eight teams. MLTT chief executive officer Flint Lane described Lin’s investment as “another great milestone for table tennis in America,” saying that the league’s “commitment to growth and innovation is drawing attention from the best in the sport, and we’re
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