Evian Masters Presented by Société Générale
Evian Golf Club
Evian-les-Bains, France
Evian Golf Club
Evian-les-Bains, France
July 28, 2012
Third-round Notes and Interviews
Third-round Notes and Interviews
Stacy Lewis -11, Rolex Rankings No. 3
Inbee Park -11, Rolex Rankings No. 21
Karrie Webb -10, Rolex Rankings No. 24
Natalie Gulbis -10, Rolex Rankings No. 88
Hyo Joo Kim -10, (a)
Cristie Kerr -9, Rolex Rankings No. 9
Inbee Park -11, Rolex Rankings No. 21
Karrie Webb -10, Rolex Rankings No. 24
Natalie Gulbis -10, Rolex Rankings No. 88
Hyo Joo Kim -10, (a)
Cristie Kerr -9, Rolex Rankings No. 9
Rolex Rankings No. 3 Stacy Lewis and No. 21 Inbee Park sit tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under-par and lead by one stroke heading into Sunday's final round of the 2012 Evian Masters Presented by Société Générale. Lewis, who has led wire-to-wire this week, shot a 1-over 73 on Saturday while Park fired a 2-under 70 to share the lead with 18 holes left to play.
Lewis is seeking her third LPGA victory of the 2012 season and fourth overall and finds herself in good position despite a so-so performance on Saturday. After rounds of 63 and 69 to open up the week, Lewis struggled during the middle part of Saturday's third round. She went 4-over in a stretch of four holes which included bogeys on No. 12 and 14 and a double-bogey on the par-5 15th. But a birdie on the finishing par-5 18th kept her in the lead for a third consecutive day.
"I knew I needed to make birdie to get in the last group," Lewis said. "That's where I wanted to be, so more than anything I was trying to make that. It's also nice just to see a putt go in. It had been quite a few holes since I'd seen a putt go in, so I think that'll help a lot. I shot 63 the first day, so I know I can play good out here. I'm not too worried about it."
Park, who was playing with Lewis on Saturday, had an opportunity to take sole possession of the lead on 18 after hitting her second shot close to the pin with a 4-hybrid. But Park just missed her eagle putt and settled for a tap-in birdie to tie Lewis for the overnight lead.
"Today was a tough day," said Park. "Out of all three days, the playing conditions were the toughest today because of a little bit of rain and wind. But really satisfied the way I hang in there today. Still putted good today, so I'm really happy."
Lewis, a native Texan, has nine top-10 finishes this season including victories at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic and the ShopRite LPGA Classic. She leads the Rolex Player of the Year race with 129 points, just nine points ahead of two-time, back-to-back winner Yani Tseng. Lewis is fourth in 2012 LPGA Official Money List with $941,860.
Park, who captured her lone LPGA Tour victory at the 2008 U.S. Women's Open, is looking to get back in the winner's circle for the first time in four years. Park has tallied top-10 finishes in her last four events including a season-best T2 at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic when she lost in a playoff to Brittany Lang.
Sitting just one shot back of the leaders are LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb, 2007 Evian Masters champion Natalie Gulbis and South Korean amateur Hyo Joo Kim while 14-time LPGA Tour winner Cristie Kerr is two strokes behind at 9-under-par.
Watch out for the former champions: Of the 14 players who are within three shots of the lead, three of them have won this event previously.
2006 Evian Masters winner Karrie Webb and 2007 winner Natalie Gulbis have put themselves in good position as they're one shot behind the co-leaders. Paula Creamer, who won here in Evian in 2005, is also within striking distance after 54 holes of play. Creamer shot a 1-over 73 on Saturday and its tied for seventh at 8-under.
Webb put herself in a position to capture another victory here in Evian by shooting a 5-under 67 on Saturday. It followed up rounds of 70 and 69 for Webb, who is still seeking her first victory of the 2012 season.
"Amazingly it was my best round of the week, but probably not my best ball-striking day," said Webb. "Which is just crazy about golf. Really hit it nicely the first two days and didn't make many putts. Today I made a couple nice long ones, which always helps get that score going. It was nice to see them go in."
For Gulbis, that victory here at the Evian Masters in 2007 is her only win on the LPGA Tour and she would love to capture her second one here as well.
"I love the golf course, for sure, and I love the greens," said Gulbis. "The greens are fast and you really have to hit a lot of different shots, which I've always enjoyed. I love everything about this event. This event is special for me because it is where I had my first individual win. It's just so beautiful. I think all the players would agree it's one of the best events all year."
Turning heads! Korean amateur Hyo Joo Kim is playing in her just second LPGA event this week but she's certainly making her presence felt here at the Evian Masters.
Kim, who turned 17 just two weeks ago, sits one shot back of the lead heading into Sunday's final round of the Evian Masters Presented by Societe Generale. Kim shot a 3-under 69 on Saturday, her third consecutive round in the 60s this week, and is tied for third at 10-under-par.
"Well, this week, I played good on the front but messed up on the back 9," Kim said through a translator. "Today was same. To be honest, I was upset. But I just wait until my feeling comfortable because I knew last three holes are short so I can have a chance to make birdie. It worked."
While Kim is still an amateur, she's no stranger to the winner's circle in professional golf. Kim captured her first KLPGA victory at the Lotte Mart championship in February. She then became the youngest winner in JLPGA history in May when she won the Suntori Ladies at the age of 16. A winner of 15 amateur events, Kim expects to turn professional at the LPGA KEB_HanaBank Championship in October.
In her only previous LPGA event earlier this year, Kim finished tied for 12th at the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf.
Kim will try to become the fifth amateur to win an LPGA event and the first since JoAnne Carner at the 1969 Burdine's Invitational.
Amateurs to win an LPGA event
Polly Riley, 1950 Tampa Open, 72 holes
Pat O'Sullivan, 1951 Titleholders Championship, 72 holes
Catherine LaCoste, 1967 U.S. Women's Open
JoAnne Carner, 1969 Burdine's Invitational, 54 holes
Get low: The winning score at the Evian Masters has been at least 14-under-par every year except for one. That was in 2007 when Natalie Gulbis took home the title with a winning score of 4-under-par. So it's no surprise that many players feel that it could take a low number to capture the victory here on Sunday.
"I think you can make a lot of birdies on this golf course," Gulbis said. " If there is some weather in the forecast, I think that just shooting a couple under will probably put you in a good spot. But if the weather is good you have to go low here. There are a lot of scorable holes."
When Cristie Kerr finished the third round, she was five shots back of Stacy Lewis. When Stacy Lewis finished her third round, she was just two shots ahead of Kerr. Entering tomorrow's final round at the Evian Masters, the American duo will each be seeking their first Evian Masters trophy. Kerr carded a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday with six birdies and one bogey to move into solo sixth.
"I played great today," Kerr said. "The conditions came in for us on the 15th hole. Really just started raining a lot and became hard to make your normal swing."
Kerr made five consecutive pars to finish the day in the midst of a rain shower that lasted 45 minutes. She is seeking her 15th LPGA victory and first since the Wegmans LPGA Championship in 2010.
Of Note…Cheyenne Woods, who missed the cut in her first two LPGA events this year, delivered another solid round on Saturday. She shot a 2-under 70, and sits in a T19 at 6-under-par…The low round of the day belonged to LPGA Tour rookie Carlota Ciganda, who shot a 6-under-66. The 22-year-old Spaniard is now tied for seventh at 8-under after beginning the day in a T41…Defending champion Ai Miyazato shot 70 on Saturday and is T29 at 5-under.
Quotable: "Feeling good all year, just not putting it all together. I think I've played consistently pretty good, but not good or great. Hopefully have another good one tomorrow and see if it's a great finish" – Karrie Webb
