Yani Tseng on course for Open

Published on Friday 30 July 2010 21:13

Taiwan's Yani Tseng, the leader from day one, has 18 more holes to negotiate at Royal Birkdale to achieve her dream of following in the footsteps of Scot Catriona Matthew and claiming her first Ricoh Women's British Open.

Matthew, the winner at Lytham a year ago, bowed out on Friday after a calamitous ten at the unlucky 13th in round two, but Tseng, the world No.5, has been a model of consistency and excellence over the opening three rounds. After a third successive 68, she reached the end of the third day on 12 under par and four ahead of Australia's Katherine Hull.

Tseng also led by four at halfway and she never looked like stumbling in a third round played in typical links conditions of wind, sun and rain. She passed off a few birdie chances in reeling off 12 straight pars and then birdied the 13th, 15th and ended in style by holing from ten feet for eagle at the last. A two-time major winner, she said: "I would love to lead from start to finish and now I have a chance. I love links golf and I have played solid all week."

Hull had a wonderful surge of five birdies in a row to finish on 66 and slip into second place. In-Kyung Kim, one of the bunch of South Koreans, was in third place on six under after making an eagle at the last for a 68.

Morgan Pressel, out early, was Saturday's big mover with a best-of-tournament 65 for three under par.

Janice Moodie was the lone Scot to make the cut and she started with bogey, double-bogey but recovered nicely and a birdie at the long sixth saw her round in 74. But she remained nearer the lower end of the field on six over par.

Five Scots started, and Moodie was the only one to break 80 in Friday's foul weather. Matthew made her exit after her sextuple ten at the 13th in an 81, while Krystle Caithness, Lynn Kenny and Vikki Laing just didn't cope very well with the conditions or the course.

"It is disappointing," said Moodie. "I hadn't really thought about it but it was when I was walking up the 17th that I realised I was the lone Scot. But I know there are some good players on the way up. A lot of people are talking about Vikki as the next one ready to break through."

Moodie is in her 13th season as a professional and has won twice on the LPGA Tour in America. Married, and a mum to three-year-old, Craig, she concedes that golf is no longer her sole priority. "Am I still as competitive? No," she said. "I have got a husband and a family and there are so many other things to do. When I am on the course I do have a clear mind, absolutely. But, if I'm honest, there is not such a strong desire. Golf is no longer the be all and end all. Life changes."