The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Choi takes control at Mobile Bay

By Korea Herald

Published : May 19, 2013 - 19:55

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Chella Choi watches her drive on the 18th hole on Saturday. (AP-Yonhap News) Chella Choi watches her drive on the 18th hole on Saturday. (AP-Yonhap News)
MOBILE, Alabama (AP) ― Chella Choi shot her second straight 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Jessica Korda and Anna Nordqvist, the Swede who broke the course record with a 61 in the third round of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic.

Choi twice made three straight birdies to move to 17 under, and has made only two bogeys in three rounds on The Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove complex.

The South Korean’s best finish in four-plus years on the tour is a tie for second in the Manulife tournament in Canada last March.

Choi, who had three top-five finishes last year, said she started checking out the leaderboard “every hole” at the start of the tournament and feels mentally stronger now in her bid to finally get a win.

“I know my shot and my putting,” she said. “I think just my mental and my experience and just confidence ... so I think I can do it. Hopefully.”

Nordqvist broke the course record of 62 set by Sydnee Michaels on Friday. Korda, the second-round leader, shot a 69.

The American had a bogey on No. 11 when the ball landed in a divot and she tweaked her right wrist, and a double bogey on No. 12.

She rebounded with a 33-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole.

“It was left to right and it was pretty,” Korda said, laughing.

Byron Nelson Championship

IRVING, Texas (AP) ― Keegan Bradley still hasn’t gotten things right on the 18th hole at the Byron Nelson Championship, even when finally going left.

The bogeys on the closing hole at TPC Four Seasons haven’t cost him the lead yet.

Bradley overcame consecutive bogeys early and bogeyed No. 18 for the third round in a row Saturday to finish with a 2-under 68 that kept him in the lead.

“(Sunday) is the day. Right down the middle,” Bradley said about that last hole. “I’m due!”

Bradley’s 13-under 197 total gave him a one-stroke lead over Bae Sang-moon, who had his third consecutive 66. Tom Gillis was two strokes back after a 67.