LPGA

• New pro Lewis leads U.S. Women's Open

  
  

  Edina, MN (Sports Network) - Stacy Lewis turned professional on June 9, just before she competed in the sectional qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open.

  That hasn't stopped Lewis from showing off her game at Interlachen Country Club this weekend. Lewis fired a six-under 67 Saturday to jump into the lead after three rounds.

  Lewis, who tied for fifth at the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship as an amateur, completed 54 holes at nine-under-par 210. The 23-year-old leads by one shot over Paula Creamer.

  "It's been such a great week," Lewis said. "I think over the past couple of years I've prepared myself for this tournament and turning pro. It's just been great so far." Creamer, already a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, carded a four-under 69 in the third round to move into second place at minus-eight.

  Helen Alfredsson and Inbee Park both shot two-under 71 in round three and they share third at minus-seven.

  In Kyung Kim shot a four-under 69 to move into fifth place at six-under-par 213.

  Mi Hyun Kim is one shot back at minus-five after her third-round 70. She is one of four players to card three rounds under par this weekend.

  Overnight leader Angela Park faltered to a two-over 75 to fall into a share of seventh at four-under-par 215. She was joined there by reigning U.S. Women's Amateur champion Maria Jose Uribe (72).

  Three-time U.S. Open champion Annika Sorenstam moved into a share of 13th at minus-two after a one-under 72 Saturday.

  After dropped a shot on the first, Sorenstam parred five in a row. She birdied two of three holes from the seventh to turn in minus-two. On the back nine, the Swede carded nine pars.

  World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa struggled to a three-over 76 to slip into a share of 43rd at four-over-par 223. Ochoa carded three bogeys and two birdies on both nines Saturday.

  Lewis was plus-one through the first 22 holes this weekend, but has been on fire since then. Since the fifth hole Friday, she has run off 11 birdies and one bogey to soar up the leaderboard.

  The plucky Lewis got her round going with a two-putt birdie on the par- five second. Two holes later, she dropped in a five-footer for birdie to move to minus-five.

  Lewis drained a birdie effort from the fringe on the eighth, then parred five straight around the turn.

  At the 14th, Lewis converted a lengthy birdie putt to move to minus-seven. She came right back with a birdie on 15 to briefly grab the lead by herself.

  After being joined at eight-under, Lewis pitched her third at the par-five 18th within seven feet and made the birdie putt for the first 54-hole lead of her career.

  "Truthfully, I'm not really that surprised," said Lewis when asked if she was surprised to be in the lead. "I felt like I could play at this level and compete at this level. It was kind of my goal to put myself into contention to win going into the last day.

  That's kind of what I try to do at every golf tournament." Creamer, who has won twice this season, got her round going with her third birdie in three days at the par-five second. She followed with a two-putt birdie on the third to move to six-under.

  The 21-year-old Creamer knocked in a five-foot birdie putt on the seventh, then drained a 12-footer for birdie on 10 to take the lead at eight-under.

  Creamer's drive on the 11th stopped in a divot and she played her second to the front edge of the green, but walked off with a bogey.

  At the 13th, she sank a 10-foot birdie putt to move back to minus-eight. Creamer parred the final five holes to end alone in second.

  "I had a lot of momentum after I made that birdie putt on 10," said Creamer. "All day long I just tried to stay consistent, tried to make putts out there. But at the same time I wasn't overly aggressive. Putts are going to fall and you have to make the big saves at the big moments to be in contention." Inbee Park was also eight-under at two points on the back nine, but she bogeyed the 17th to end in a share of third.

  Young Kim posted a two-under 71 Saturday to move into a tie for ninth at three-under-par 216. She was joined there by Jeong Jang (74), Teresa Lu (73) and Momoko Ueda (73).

  Sorenstam is one shot back at minus-two where she stands alongside Finland's Minea Blomqvist (76) and defending champion Cristie Kerr (75).

  06/28 20:20:29 ET