Hedwall leads Canadian Women’s Open

EDMONTON: Swedish Solheim Cup star Caroline Hedwall fired a six-under par 64 on Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open.
Hedwall, seeking the first LPGA title of her career, had seven birdies and just one bogey at Royal Mayfair Golf Club on Saturday and had a 54-hole total of 10-under par 200.
She was one stroke in front of Solheim Cup teammate Suzann Pettersen of Norway who carded a five-under 65 and defending champion Lydia Ko, the New Zealand teen phenom who posted a 67.
Ko’s victory in this event last year at the age of 15 years and four months made her the youngest player to win an LPGA title.
Although Hedwall has never won on the US women’s tour, she is a five-time winner on the Ladies European Tour and arrived in Canada after a blockbuster performance in Europe’s Solheim Cup match play triumph over the United States in Colorado.
She was the only player on either team to play all possible five matches and became the first player in the history of the trans-Atlantic match play duel to go 5-0.
“I was a little tired on Monday, Tuesday and also Wednesday, but when the tournament starts I think last week just gave me a lot of energy and self confidence, so I can’t feel anything,” the 24-year-old Hedwall said.
Her playing partners, Pettersen (65) and Brittany Lincicome (66) had solid rounds of their own and were two of only five players to shoot 66 or better in the third round on Saturday.
“It was definitely inspiring playing with Suzann and Brittany today,” Hedwall said. “We hit it close and we made a lot of putts, so it was a lot of fun.”
Hedwall will be paired with Pettersen and Ko in the final round. Ko five birdie and two bogeys in her round of 67 and said she feels she’s in good position to try to defend her title.
“I was three shots back from the leader yesterday, and I’m one shot back at the moment, so I’m getting much closer to the leader,” the 16-year-old said. “I played pretty well out there.”
Second-round co-leaders Park In-Bee of South Korea and Cristie Kerr of the United States both slipped back, Park’s four-over 74 leaving her six strokes adrift in a group on 206 and Kerr falling seven off the pace with a 75.
World number one Park, winner of three major titles this year, had one birdie, three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-3 11th.
“Just the overall day, everything seemed like it didn’t go the right way,” Park said. “It wasn’t that bad of drives, but it just ended up in the rough, and you really have no shot from the rough. I was putting, and nothing really wanted to go in. I burned a lot of edges. Just one of those kind of days. We still have tomorrow.”