Ariya has a roller-coaster round in Open
Play
Ariya Jutanugarn had an patchy third round, shooting four birdies only to commit two double bogeys and four bogeys on her way to a 75 and an overall score of two-over-par 218 in the Women's British Open.
After a brilliant 68 on Friday, the Thai teenager failed to keep up with her good form, stumbling to an early double bogey on the first and then another on the 16th hole. She completed the front nine with three birdies against one bogey but sank three bogeys against two birdies on the back nine.
“Everything in my game went well except for my driving. The course is quite narrow. If you don’t hit the first shot well, then you are in a tough position,” said Ariya who settled for joint 20th place shared by South Koreans Lee Meena, Shin Jiyai, Choi Chella and Jenny Shin.
Thai No 1 Pornanong Phatlum’s hopes of finishing inside the top 10 disappeared after she fired a 75, her worst score in three days. The Thai ace had only two birdies compared to a double bogey on the second hole and three bogeys on the first, fourth and 15th holes.
Pornanong was at tied 42nd with six over par 222, one shot better than Thidapa Suwannapura who shot a 73 on Saturday.
Park snatches lead
South Korea’s Park Inbee celebrated her 26th birthday by grabbing a one-shot lead at the Women’s British Open after compatriot Ahn Sun Ju was penalised two strokes.
With a third round four under par 68, the former world No 1 claimed the lead after a dramatic end to the third day at Royal Birkdale.
Ahn thought she had taken the lead on five under par after a 69.
But she was then penalised two shots for infringing Rule 13-3/3 – in a greenside bunker at the final hole, she was deemed to have “built a stance” and so was docked the two shots for a 71.
It put her on three under par and in a share of second place with Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and China’s Feng Shanshan.
Pettersen, a two-time major winner, had a 68, while Feng, the 2012 LPGA Champion, shot 69.
Ahn, with 26 wins in Korea and Japan, admitted it had been pure ignorance which had caused the penalty.
“I didn’t know about the rule but all I was doing was trying to make a stance,” said the 26-year-old.
“I am surprised by it but if that’s the rule then I have to abide by it and just refocus. The ball was placed on a very upslope lie so it was hard to make a stance.
“My intent wasn’t to break the rule, just to set my feet firm. I’ll have to have a night’s sleep and then see if it is going to motivate me. At least I’m still in the game.”
