Inkster increases lead to three strokes

Defending champion Juli Inkster shot a 6-under-par 66 to increase her lead to three strokes after the third round of the LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge in Lincoln Califonia.

Inkster, the Hall of Famer playing about 125 miles (200 kilometres) from her Los Altos home, had a 13-under 203 total on the Twelve Bridges Golf Club course on Saturday.

Brandie Burton was second after a 68, and Sweden's Carin Koch was another stroke back after her third straight 69. Australia's Rachel Heatherington (71) and Canada's A J Eathorne (68) were tied for fourth at 211.

It was another memorable day for Inkster, who won five tournaments last year and qualified for the Hall of Fame.

Leading by one stroke, she opened the round with a birdie on the first hole and added three more through six holes. Consecutive birdies on the back nine, the second one on a short putt at No. 13, increased Inkster's lead to four strokes.

Koch remained in contention with a pair of sensational shots on the back nine. She chipped in for eagle at No 12 and holed out from a bunker for birdie on No 13.

Leading third-round scores from the LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge in California (US uless stated):

203 J Inkster 70 67 66 203 B Burton 69 69 68 207 C Koch (Swe) 69 69 69 211 R Hetherington (Aus) 66 74 71, A J Eathorne (Can) 76 67 68 212 J McGill 69 70 73 213 K Tschetter 72 69 72, A Sorenstam (Swe) 71 73 69, K Golden 71 71 71 214 C Figg-Currier 66 74 74, M Hjorth (Swe) 72 72 70, B Iverson 72 72 70 215 K Mi Hyun 72 74 69 216 J Lidback (Per) 72 73 71, J Geddes 71 72 73, A Ridgeway 73 73 70, E Klein 76 68 72, K Saiki 76 70 70, L A Mills 73 76 67

Others:

219 J Morley (GB) 78 71 70 220 M McKay (GB) 69 75 76 225 C McMillan (GB) 74 73 78