Pettersen takes 1-stroke lead in Manulife LPGA Classic

Jun 6, 2015, 4:36 PM

Suzann Pettersen, of Norway, hits off the sixth tee during the third round of the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Cambridge, Ontario. (Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

(Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAMBRIDGE, Ontario (AP) — Suzann Pettersen took a one-stroke lead Saturday in the Manulife LPGA Classic, making an eagle and four birdies on the first 11 holes and closing with seven pars for a 6-under 66.

Pettersen had a 19-under 197 total at Whistle Bear Golf Club. Bothered by a shoulder injury this season, the 34-year-old Norwegian player won the last of her 14 LPGA Tour titles in 2013.

“I can only look upwards, only I can set the pace,” Pettersen said. “Yeah, there’s a lot of people in the hunt for this and the course is playing great. I think it’s fun for the fans to see us shooting low scores and I’m excited to go back out there tomorrow and fight it to the very end.”

Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe was second after a 67.

“I’m a pretty aggressive player, so luckily I didn’t have to change my strategy here,” Uribe said. “I feel really confident right now, my driver’s pretty straight, so I like it.”

She won the tour’s unofficial HSBC Brazil Cup in 2011.

Cristie Kerr was third at 17 under, also after a 67. The American won the Kia Classic in California in March for her 17th LPGA Tour title.

“I think you can’t get too far back on a course like this,” Kerr said. “You’ve got to be able to stay within sight. Just got to play my own game and just start walking some putts in and put some pressure on the other people.”

Petersen birdied the first three holes, eagled the par-5 ninth and made another birdie on No. 11.

“I got off to a fantastic start,” Pettersen said. “Then, coming off 18, I don’t know if I felt like I played that well today. I kind of dried up a little bit towards the end. … Overall very happy, in a good position, but there’s a good job to be done tomorrow.”

Uribe rebounded from a bogey on No. 11 with birdies on 12 and 14.

“I just tried to stay patient, there’s so many options there to make birdie,” Uribe said. “I didn’t really start that well, birdie on No. 1, and then didn’t really make birdie til the end of the front nine, so just stayed patient there. I think of just my game.”

Kerr saved par with 15-foot putt on No. 16 and closed with a 15-footer for birdie on 18.

“That was a great birdie on the last hole,” Kerr said. “I think I jumped up in the air. I made a great putt on 16 and that was not an easy pin there, either. You know what, I was hitting so many good putts all day that nothing was dropping and I was getting a little frustrated. … I just got really determined down at the end there to make up a couple so I stay within reach tomorrow.”

Second-ranked Inbee Park, the winner last year at Grey Silo in Waterloo, had a 70 to reach 9 under. Top-ranked Lydia Ko also was tied for 32nd at 9 under after a 68.

Suzann Pettersen, of Norway, hits out of the rough on the second hole during the third round of the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Cambridge, Ontario. (Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Cristie Kerr, of the United States blasts out of the sand on the third hole during the third round of the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Cambridge, Ontario. (Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Suzann Pettersen, of Norway, right, walks off the fourth tee with Mariajo Uribe, of Colombia during the third round of the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Cambridge, Ontario. (Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Mariajo Uribe, of Colombia, hits off the sixth tee during the third round of the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Cambridge, Ontario. (Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Suzann Pettersen, of Norway reacts as she misses a birdie putt on the fourth green during the third round of the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Cambridge, Ontario. (Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Suzann Pettersen, of Norway, stops Cristie Kerr, of the United States, from stepping on the putting line of Mariajo Uribe at the second hole during the third round of the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Cambridge, Ontario. (Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Suzann Pettersen, of Norway, hits off the sixth tee during the third round of the 2015 Manulife LPGA Classic, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Cambridge, Ontario. (Peter Power/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

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