SOUTHPORT, United Kingdom: South Korea’s Park Inbee celebrated her 26th birthday by grabbing a one-shot lead at the Women’s British Open after compatriot Ahn Sun Ju was penalised two strokes.
With a third round four under par 68, the former world number one claimed the lead after a dramatic end to the third day at Royal Birkdale. Ahn thought she had taken the lead on five under par after a 69. But she was then penalised two shots for infringing Rule 13-3/3 -- in a greenside bunker at the final hole, she was deemed to have “built a stance” and so was docked the two shots for a 71.
It put her on three under par and in a share of second place with Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and China’s Feng Shanshan.
Pettersen, a two-time major winner, had a 68, while Feng, the 2012 LPGA Champion, shot 69.
Ahn, with 26 wins in Korea and Japan, admitted it had been pure ignorance which had caused the penalty. “I didn’t know about the rule but all I was doing was trying to make a stance,” said the 26-year-old.
“I am surprised by it but if that’s the rule then I have to abide by it and just refocus. The ball was placed on a very upslope lie so it was hard to make a stance.
AFP
