Park in control at LGPA finale

MIAMI: South Korea’s Park Sung-Hyun opened up a commanding three-shot lead at the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship on Friday, forging clear of the field after a front-nine birdie blitz.

The 24-year-old US Women’s Open champion carded a seven-under-par 65 at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, to leave her at 12 under for the tournament heading into the weekend.

If Park manages to defend her lead she could scoop the Player of the Year honours as well as the LPGA money title and the $1 million bonus on offer for the Race to the CME Globe crown. Park would also be likely to unseat China’s Feng Shanshan as women’s world number one with a victory.

The Korean rookie, who carded a 67 in the first round, got off to a steady start on Friday with four consecutive pars. She then uncorked five straight birdies from the fifth hole onwards to put her at five under at the turn, 10 under overall.

A further birdie on 12 was followed by a spectacular eagle three on the par-five 17th, when she nailed a 30-foot putt. A bogey on the 18th, when she missed a five-foot par putt, was the only blemish.