Associated Press
Saturday, April 15

LINCOLN, Calif. -- Juli Inkster is playing the front-runner role to perfection for the second straight year in the LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge.

	Despite a little help from the flag, Carin Koch missed her birdie putt and settled for par on the third hole. Koch shot a 69 and is 4 strokes off the lead.

The Hall of Famer, playing about 125 miles from her Los Altos home, shot a 6-under-par 66 on Saturday to increase her lead to three strokes after the third round.

"I hit the ball right where I wanted to most of the time," Inkster said. "I'm playing very well. I hit every fairway and also putted well. I'll take that same solidness tomorrow."

Inkster had a 13-under 203 total on the Twelve Bridges course, the lowest three-round score in tournament's five-year history. Last year, she also led by three strokes after three rounds en route to a four-stroke victory.

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.

"You know this course can both give and take shots pretty easy," Burton said. "The only thing you can do is just hang in there and play the course. I just have to keep playing and not focus on anyone else."

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.

"I was hitting solid shots all day, getting close enough to give myself the opportunities for birdies," Inkster said.

The only green Inkster missed in regulation was the 18th. She left a putt from the short grass well short of the hole, yet came back with an 18-footer to save par.

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.

"The chip-ins were a reward for how well I played on the front, they got me going again," Koch said. "I had a feeling that first one would go in, it's one of my favorite shots. It spins and rolls out, it was the perfect situation for it."

Divots
It was a frustrating day for Annika Sorenstam, who made six birdies, but had three bogeys for a 69. The Swedish star is 10 strokes off the lead. ... Dorothy Delasin, the U.S. Women's Amateur champion, birdied the 18th to finish with a 70. She is 3 over through three rounds. ... Jill McGill, one stroke off the lead to start the day, shot a 73.