Yuri Fudoh maintained her challenge to become the second Japanese player to win a women's major with a third round 69 for a one-stroke lead at the Women's British Open on Saturday. On 13-under-par 203, the 31-year-old led by a shot from South Korea's Shin Ji-yai, who dropped a shot at the last for a 70, with Japan's Ai Miyazato in third place after a 68. It was a mixed day for defending champion and world number one Lorena Ochoa. The Mexican thrust herself into contention with an outward half of 32, but then hit a few too many wayward shots in a poor back nine of 39 for a 71. On eight under, she is five shots off the lead but certainly not out of it. Despite tricky conditions, Fudoh showed an excellent touch around the greens and packed five birdies into the first 11 holes. She let one slip at the sixth and her only other mistake was a wayward second that cost her a bogey at the 17th. Fudoh gave her experienced caddy Pete Coleman, who worked for Bernhard Langer for many years, some of the credit. “I followed his advice and didn't feel under too much pressure,” she said. Shin, who was the joint overnight leader with Fudoh, birdied the long second and 10th and picked up another shot at the short par four ninth. Her only error came at the 18th when she hit into the stand, had a free drop, but still could not rescue par. Miyazato also has a chance to follow in the footsteps of Chako Higuchi, who became the first Japanese woman to win a major at the 1977 LPGA Championship. Annika Sorenstam, in her final major before retirement, struggled to hit the form that has earned her 10 majors. The 2003 champion did produce a little magic with an eagle at the par four 11th, holing a 38-yard wedge shot, but two bogeys in the last six holes left her with a 70 for two under. Funk extends lead American Fred Funk played through neck soreness to grind out a 1-under-par 69 and open up a two-stroke lead in the second round of the US Senior Open in Colorado Springs on Friday. Funk, who held a one-shot lead after a first round 65 and started on the back nine on Friday, began feeling pain on his first hole but kickstarted his round with an eagle at the par 5 18th. Argentina's Eduardo Romero is in second place at four under par after matching Funk's second-round score of 69. John Cook, Tom Kite and Mark McNulty are four off the pace at two under. Greg Norman shot a two over par. Ian Woosman set the day's pace with a two-under 68, while D A Weibring managed one-under par for a share of sixth place at even par.
