Norway’s Pettersen takes one-stroke LPGA lead

KITCHENER, Canada: Suzann Pettersen fired four birdies and an eagle in firing a six-under 66 to move one shot clear of the field after Saturday’s third round of the LPGA Manulife Classic.
The 34-year-old Norwegian, who is aiming for her 15th career LPGA win, got off to a blistering start with three birdies in a row to open her round to stand on 19-under 197 after 54 holes.
“Overall I am pretty happy,” said Pettersen, who played the front nine at the Whistle Bear Golf Club course in five-under 31.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of people in the hunt for this and the course is playing great. I think it’s fun for the fans to see us shooting low scores and I’m excited to go back out there tomorrow and fight it to the very end.
“I’m making putts and giving myself a lot of opportunities. I’ve had a couple of small mistakes, but I’ve managed to save myself.”
Pettersen has looked good since returning from a left shoulder injury that forced her to pull out of a pair of tournaments in April.
Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe fired a five-under 67 and slipped to one shot back after sharing the second round lead with Pettersen.
Uribe rolled in five birdies in a seven-hole span and finished with just one bogey, that on the par-3 17th, to stand on 198.
American Cristie Kerr, last year’s runner-up, also shot 67 and stands alone in third place on 199 with Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg another two strokes adrift after a 68.
Uribe seeks her first LPGA victory. In 2011 she won the HSBC Brazil Cup, which is an unofficial event.
“I’ve been playing well this year, but my putting has been on and off,” said Uribe. “So I’ve been coming from two top 20s, so obviously I know my game is getting there, and coming into the summer I really want to peak right now”.