LYTHAM ST. ANNE’S, England, 3 August 2003 — Frenchwoman Patricia Meunier Lebouc, who is almost three months pregnant, took a one-shot lead in the women’s British Open third round yesterday as Annika Sorenstam moved into contention.

Meunier Lebouc, winner of the year’s opening major championship in California in March, fired a five-under-par 67, finishing at 10-under 206, while world number Sorenstam returned a blemish-free 68 to set up herself up for a last-day challenge.

American Wendy Ward, who carded a 69, was tied for second at nine under with South Korea’s Pak Se Ri, who carded a matching 69 after dropping shots at the last two holes.

Sorenstam reeled off birdies at the ninth and 11th, and chipped in from 20 feet to eagle the par-five sixth, to give herself a good chance of winning the only available grand slam title that has so far eluded her.

“I’m very, very pleased with the way I played,” said the Swede, who ended the day alone in fourth two off the pace. “I hit the ball as well as I ever have and it was a day when I just wanted to keep on playing.

“I’d love to complete the (career) grand slam. But I’m trying not to think too far ahead, I just want to concentrate on trying to win this title.”

A couple of months after she played alongside the men at the PGA Tour’s Colonial tournament, Sorenstam is still feeling the after-effects, both good and bad.

She concedes she is still very tired after a merry-go-round of demands that her trip to Texas entailed, but she is also reaping the benefits of that experience.

“Colonial, and everything that went with it, has definitely helped my game and my approach to winning tournaments,” she said. “It was just everything about it — the pressure, the attention, the preparation.

“I don’t know if it will be tomorrow, next week or in five months’ time, but I know it is going to help me win more golf tournaments.” This season, Sorenstam has won three times on the LPGA Tour, including her fifth major at the LPGA Championship, and once in Japan.

Meunier Lebouc mixed four birdies with an eagle, also at the long sixth, but dropped shots at the third and seventh to reach the turn in four-under 31.

Coming home, she picked up another shot at the 17th.

Pak, champion two years ago, looked set to take the overnight lead until she hit her second shot through the green to drop a stroke at the 17th. She then found a fairway bunker at the last, where she ran up another bogey.

Ward, with three wins in eight years on tour, matched Pak’s 69, collecting four birdies in the first 11 holes before dropping her only shot at the last.

Australia’s Karrie Webb, the defending champion, was alone in fifth place, and also cannot be discounted after a third-round 70 left her just three off the lead.

Red-Hot Putter Helps Scott Into a Share of Malmo Lead

In Malmo, Sweden, Australia’s Adam Scott continued his recent putting revival to tie for the Scandinavian Masters third-round lead yesterday, bringing himself nearer his target of qualifying for the President’s Cup team.

Scott, avoiding a three-putt for the third day in a row, fired a blemish-free five-under-par 67, drawing level with Dutchman Maarten Lafeber at eight-under 208 and two clear of the field.

Lafeber, who opened with rounds of 68 and 71, carded a 69.

Britain’s Nick Dougherty lost the lead he had held for two days as he slumped to a 74, dropping back into a share of third with Swede Carl Pettersson, who fired a course-record 66, and fellow Britons, Luke Donald (71) and Steve Webster (68).

Scott, 23, without a win since claiming last year’s Scottish PGA championship by 10 strokes, has been bedeviled by putting woes since losing to Tiger Woods in the WGC Accenture Match Play in early March.

His putting had deteriorated so badly coming into this week’s event that he had three-putted at least once in every one of his 17 rounds over the last two months. But hard work on his putting has finally paid off.

Lafeber, who moved into a share of the lead by sinking a 25-foot birdie putt at the last, was heartened by his grandstand finish, as he, too, has suffered from recent putting woes.

The 28-year-old Dutch professional has turned to renowned Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout for help.