Sweden’s Karin Sjodin steered a steady course in gusting winds on Saturday, firing a four-under 68 to join world No.1 Yani Tseng atop the Kraft Nabisco Championship leaderboard, as Australian Lindsey Wright dropped back.
Sjodin, who is seeking a first victory in seven seasons on the LPGA tour, had just one bogey as she joined Tseng on nine-under 207 going into Sunday’s final round of the first women’s major of the year.
Wright was tied third after the second round, but she faltered with a disappointing 76 in the third round.
Wright is now tied 24th, alongside Karrie Webb, with Katherine Hull now the best-placed Australian at five under and tied for ninth.
Sjodin, who briefly took the outright lead before Tseng rejoined her at the top, said she was delighted with the way things went.
“The day was just kind of smooth,” said Sjodin, with the Swede’s effort even more impressive given she apparently dislocated one of her ribs on Friday.
“I never felt like I was ever in trouble … It feels great to be there. I don’t know if I’ve really had time to think about it much. It’s going to be fun tomorrow, definitely.”
Tseng, a five-time major champion, is currently the dominant force in the women’s game. But she showed some frustration on her way to a one-under 71 at Mission Hills.
South Korea’s Haeji Kang, also seeking a first LPGA Tour title, was two strokes back after struggling to a 72.
World No.2 Na Yeon Choi of South Korea led a group of five players on six-under.
Sjodin, who had never made the cut at the Kraft Nabisco before, will play in the final group on Sunday for the first time in her LPGA career.
She’ll have her work cut out battling Tseng, who has won three of five LPGA tournaments this season, including the last two.
The 23-year-old from Taiwan is vying to become the youngest six-time major winner in golf history — man or woman.
Tseng said she knew by the time she and Kang teed off in the final pairing that the wind would be a problem.
“For the front nine, I played very solid, especially in this wind,” she said. “I don’t think it was as tough as I thought, so maybe I was prepared for this. But on the back nine, I got kind of emotional, maybe thinking too much, trying too hard to play better.”
After Tseng bogeyed the seventh and Sjodin drained a birdie putt at 11 the Swede had sole possession of the lead, but Tseng rebounded with a birdie at the 10th.
But Tseng was put on the clock on the next hole for slow play, and after a poor tee shot she ended up with a bogey at 11. She missed a two-footer for par at 13, where her ball circled the cup but didn’t drop.
“I’m glad this happened today instead of tomorrow,” Tseng said. “I was just thinking too much and trying too hard. It’s good to find out earlier.”
