Steinhauer desperate to reclaim crown

American Sherri Steinhauer rolled back the clock today when she shot a six under par 66 and took a two-shot lead after the third round of the Weetabix Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

A round of four birdies and an eagle put the two-time former champion on seven under par 209 and three shots ahead of a group of four that included Kent’s Karen Stupples.

Stupples, the champion from Sunningdale two years ago, had three birdies in a 70 to finish alongside Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa, Swede Sophie Gustafson and halfway leader, Juli Inkster, from America, on four under par.

“It would be fantastic to win again,” said the Florida-based 33-year-old. “Tonight I’m just going to go back, have some dinner and take it easy. I’ve been with my family all week and it’s been real fun.

“Coming back to the British always makes me feel relaxed and I seem to produce my best golf.”

Stupples dropped a shot at the fourth but hit back with birdie at the fifth, 11th and 16th. “I was lucky not to go into bunkers at the 16th and 17th. I think someone was looking out for me,” she added.

World number one Annika Sorenstam bogeyed the final three holes for an inward 40

and a disappointing 73 that left her seven shots behind on level par 216 while Laura Davies had a 73 and was on one over.

The champion at Lytham in 1998 and again at Woburn the following year, the extra incentive for Steinhauer this time is that a win tomorrow would be her first major. The championship earned the status in 2001.

“That would be a bonus,” she said. “People ask me which title I have won and when I say the British Open they presume it was a major. I don’t say anything.

“But I don’t want to start thinking about that yet. Being a front runner is difficult and I know I’ll be nervous tomorrow. But I’ll just keep talking myself and try to concentrate on taking one shot at a time.”

Ochoa had a best of tournament 65 with a flawless seven birdie round while Gustafson shot 69 to raise her hopes of repeating her win at Birkdale six years ago.

Inkster, three ahead at halfway, opened by holing a 30-foot put for the first of four birdies at the short first.

But double bogeys at the long seventh and the par four tenth spoiled her day and she also dropped a shot at the last for a 74.

Sixteen-year-old Michelle Wie, who was penalised two shots for touching a loose impediment in a bunker on her backswing in round two, was out early and shot 72. On four over par and 11 shots off the lead, her chances of becoming the youngest winner n Tour had surely gone.