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Stanford Takes 4-Shot Lead

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2008

MOBILE, Ala. - Angela Stanford shot her second consecutive 5-under 67 on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead in the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.

"I'm having such a good time playing this golf course," said Stanford, who won the 2003 ShopRite LPGA Classic for her lone tour title.

"It's been a while since I've been in this position, and I'm just having so much fun this week that I don't think there's any pressure."

Stanford had seven birdies, including four in a row on the back nine, to reach 12-under 204 on The Crossings course at Magnolia Grove.

"That may be the best back nine I've ever played," said Stanford, who shot a 5-under 31 on the final nine holes. "We really had a hard time on the front side with the wind. ... It seemed to be more consistent on the back nine."

Canadian Women's Open winner Katherine Hull was 8 under after a 68, and Angela Park (69) and Shanshan Feng (70) were tied for third at 6 under.

Cristie Kerr, two strokes ahead of Stanford after a second-round 66, shot a 76 to drop seven shots back at 5 under. Danielle Downey (64), Kim Hall (67), Kristy McPherson (67), H.J. Choi (67), Hee Young Park (70) and Reilley Rankin (72) also were 5 under.

Hull had a one-stroke lead through 13 holes, but bogeyed 14 and got into big trouble on 18, where she trickled a shot out of the bunker, chipped well short of the hole and missed a 7-foot putt en route to a double bogey.

"I guess I haven't had a lot of bunker shots and probably took it a little for granted," Hull said. "I'll probably forget about it in about 10 minutes. The bottom line is, I shot 68 and played pretty well."

Park dropped a stroke with a bogey on 18.

"I didn't putt very well yesterday, which I think hurt me a little bit for the tournament, but I went out there today and said, 'I'm going to go as slow as I can,'" Park said. "I'm making plenty of birdies out there, and making a couple of bogeys here and there that I should not. Hopefully, tomorrow we won't have any more bogeys."

Downey followed a 78 in the windy second round with her bogey-free 64.

"I hit a lot of fairways today," said Downey, who birdied five of the last six holes. "I had three tap-in birdies, so that helped. I struck the ball well to get to that point."

CHAMPIONS TOUR: At Conover, N.C., Tom Jenkins shot a 7-under 65 for a share of the second-round lead with defending champion R.W. Eaks in the Greater Hickory Classic.

Jenkins, in contention for his first Champions Tour victory in two years, matched Eaks at 15-under 129 on the Rock Barn Golf and Spa course. Eaks shot a bogey-free 68 after opening with a 61.

The 54-year-old Jenkins, who opened with a 64, made up ground Saturday with eight birdies, including five in a row between Nos. 7-11.

PGA EUROPEAN: At Pulheim, Germany, Robert Karlsson of Sweden took a three-stroke lead after the third round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship, overcoming a one-shot penalty to shoot a 4-under 68.

Karlsson, one of the four Europeans warming up for next week's Ryder Cup, was penalized for grounding his putter when his ball moved slightly on the second green.

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