Miyazato seizes lead at LPGA Founders Cup

PHOENIX, Arizona (AFP) –

Ai Miyazato of Japan hits a tee shot on the 18th hole during the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup March 16, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. Miyazato fired a five-under par 67 and was aided by a penalty on American Stacy Lewis on her way to seizing a four-stroke lead after the third round.

Ai Miyazato fired a five-under par 67 and was aided by a penalty on American Stacy Lewis on her way to seizing a four-stroke lead after the third round of the LPGA Founders Cup.

Japan’s Miyazato, who seeks her 10th career LPGA title, finished 54 holes at the $1.5 million event on 19-under 197 with Lewis, who could claim the World No. 1 ranking with a victory, and South Korean Jee Young Lee third on 201.

Lewis thought she had fired a 66 but tournament officials conducted a video review of the actions of her caddie, Travis Wilson, in a bunker on the par-4 16th hole and assessed a two-stroke penalty for testing the sand.

That turned a par on the hole into a double bogey and boosted Lewis to a 68 for the round, doubling her deficit behind Miyazato entering the last 18 holes.

The caddie walked into the bunker and appeared to flex his feet while standing in place as Lewis asked a question about her upcoming bunker shot.

For World No. 3 Lewis to become No. 1, she would need to win the tournament and have top-ranked Yani Tseng, the defending Founders Cup champion from Taiwan, finish worse than third. Tseng shared 63rd on 214 after 54 holes.

Stacy Lewis stands on the 16th green at the LPGA Founders Cup at Wildfire Golf Club on March 16, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. Lewis thought she had fired a 66 but tournament officials conducted a video review of the actions of her caddie, Travis Wilson, in a bunker on the par-4 16th hole and assessed a two-stroke penalty for testing the sand.

For the second day in a row, Miyazato birdied three of the course’s four par-5 holes, this time gaining ground on the second, fifth and 15th holes. She also had back-to-back birdies at the par-4 12th and 13th holes.

Lewis made back-to-back birdies at the second and par-4 third, added a birdie at the par-4 seventh, then began the back nine with two birdies in a row and closed with a birdie, only to stumble back due to the penalty.

Lee, who led after the second round, managed only one birdie and one bogey in a third-round 72 at Wildfire Golf Club, where Miyazato set a course-record with a 63 in round one.

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist was in a group sharing fourth on 203 that included Americans Angela Stanford, Lizette Salas and Gerina Piller.

South Koreans Inbee Park and Jimin Kang, Italy’s Giulia Sergas and Americans Nicole Castrale and Sydnee Michaels were on 204.