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Fudoh Has Shot At 1st Major Title

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By ROBERT MILLWARD

The Associated Press

Published: August 3, 2008

SUNNINGDALE, England - Yuri Fudoh of Japan shot a 3-under 69 to lead by one stroke after the third round of the Women's British Open on Saturday.

Fudoh, who qualified for the tournament by finishing in the top 15 of the championship a year ago at St. Andrews, is at 13 under 203 at Sunningdale and in sight of her first major championship.

Ji-Yai Shin of South Korea (70) is second after making a bogey at the 18th. Shin drove her tee shot into the rough, then pulled her second shot into the gallery. Taking a drop, she pitched 20 feet past the hole and then missed the par putt.

Fudoh was the leading money winner on the Japanese LPGA Tour from 2000-05 and has won 45 tournaments in her home country. She is using veteran caddie Peter Coleman, who helped Bernhard Langer win two Masters titles.

"He has helped on the distance and I think 50 percent of what I have done is because of the caddie," Fudoh said through an interpreter.

Fudoh said she has no plans to move to the LPGA Tour in the United States.

"I don't think I have enough power to play on the LPGA, like physical condition," she said.
Ai Miyazato of Japan (68) is two shots back from Fudoh. Then came Americans Cristie Kerr (70) and Juli Inkster (71) another stroke back.

Inkster, who is aiming to win her eighth major a record 24 years after her first, started one shot behind Shin and Fudoh at 9 under. She took the lead by pitching her second shot within 8 feet of the flag at the first hole and making the eagle putt.

Aiming to become the oldest winner of a women's major at age 48, she narrowly missed another eagle at the second when she pitched out of the rough and the ball rolled just past the flag for a short birdie putt to go to 12 under. But Inkster lost her way soon after the turn, dropping shots at the 11th, 12th and 17th, where her 30-foot par putt shaved the hole. At the 18th, she missed a 4-foot birdie putt.
Defending champion Lorena Ochoa (71) also had a bad back nine to fall five shots off the lead. Having picked up four shots before the turn to move within one of the lead, the Mexican became wild off the tee, finding the rough at the 11th, 17th and 18th to drop three shots.

Annika Sorenstam shot a 70 for her best round of the week.

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