Jang builds five-shot Open lead

South Korea’s Jeong Jang, the leader from round one, too an even firmer grip on the Weetabix Women’s British Open after a third round 69 today at Royal Birkdale.

The 25-year-old has never won in six seasons on the LPGA Tour, but she moved from four shots ahead at halfway to five in front on 13 under 203 after the five birdie round.

World number one Annika Sorenstam, who finished with two birdies for a 66, was in second place on eight under alongside American Cristie Kerr, who had a 69.

And the group of five in joint fourth place included the 15-year-old American wonder amateur, Michelle Wie, who packed seven birdies into a 67.

Kent’s Karen Stupples could also still keep up her hopes of a possible successful defence of the final major of the women’s season as she headed an impressive third round surge by the British contingent with a great 65.

Wales’ Becky Brewerton matched Stupples best of tournament 65 and was on five under, while England’s Laura Davies, who closed out with two eagles for a 66, and another Welsh player, Becky Morgan, with a 67, were on four under.

Jang has never won a tournament in five years on Tour – so Sorenstam, who has collected 74 wins worldwide including nine majors, and Kerr, the US number one, are sure to pile on the pressure on the final day.

“This was the best I’ve played all week,” suggested an ebullient Sorenstam, who has won six times this season, including two majors.

“I finally made some birdies at the par fives so that was mission accomplished and tomorrow is going to be a big day,” she said.

Big-hitting six-foot Wie could have been even closer to Jang if she could have got her putter to work – and the teenager admitted she was “really frustrated.”

She did make six birdies, but said: “I didn’t hole anything longer than nine feet. I’m still pretty happy with my score but I just feel it could have been so much better.”

Stupples raised memories of her win at Sunningdale last year when she nearly holed her second shot for an albatross two at the 472-yard final hole.

Twelve months ago she opened her last round with an eagle and an albatross before going on to join Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas as the only Britons to win a women’s major.

“It was amazing,” said Stupples. “I hit my drive into the rough at the last but had the perfect yardage for a five wood.

“I couldn’t actually see where the ball was going but I knew it was a good shot and the gallery just got louder and louder. I thought ‘surely not again?”’

Brewerton claimed her 65 was the best round of her life. “My previous low was a 66 here in the Birkdale Scratch Amateur but to do this in the British Open is really special,” said the delighted youngster.

“I’ve got loads of people from North Wales here watching, and they were all giving it stick.

“I’m here to win and now I’m going to go out and give it a real go tomorrow.”

But Jang, who plays with Sorenstam in the final pair, is the one the rest have to catch.

“I’ll be nervous, not because I’m playing with Annika but because I’m leading,” she said of the biggest day of her career.

“I’ll be watching what she is doing, but I’ll be doing my own thing and playing my own game.”