Park leads Meijer LPGA Classic

BELMONT, Michigan (AP) ― Park In-bee figures the best defense against the nerves that come with being in the lead is a hot putter.

Using a new blade putter this week, Park made two long birdie putts on the back nine Saturday and finished with a 3-under 68 to remain a stroke ahead after the third round of the Meijer LPGA Classic.

“I feel like I haven’t holed that kind of putt for a long time and it’s all of a sudden happening this week,” Park said. “This putter, it seems like it’s going really on line and I feel like I’m stroking the ball better this week.”

The third-ranked South Korean player holed a 25-footer from the fringe on the par-3 14th, bogeyed the par-4 15th after missing a 3-foot par try and rebounded with a 35-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th. The 26-year-old Park won six times last season and took the Manulife Financial in June in Canada for her 10th LPGA Tour title. She had a 13-under 200 total at Blythefield Country Club.

“I think it would have been nice if I had probably two- or three-(shot lead),” Park said. “That gives me more breathing room, but one is still better than nothing. I’m in better position than everybody else.”