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Pressel back in front in France

Sat 24th, July 2010

Evian-les-Bains, France (Sports Network) - Morgan Pressel eagled the final hole Saturday for a five-under 67 and the third-round lead of the Evian Masters.

Pressel, who shared the first-round lead at Evian Masters Golf Club, finished 54 holes at 11-under 205 and is two strokes clear of former world No. 1 Jiyai Shin (68) and Jeong Jang (70).

Brittany Lincicome fired a seven-under 65 on Saturday and is tied for fourth place with 15-year-old Alexis Thompson, who posted a five-under 67. The pair is knotted at minus-eight.

Second-round leader Mika Miyazato struggled to a two-over 74 in round three and dipped into a tie for sixth place with Mayu Hattori (69), Na Yeon Choi (71) and M.J. Hur (71). The group finished at seven-under 209.

The leaderboard was jammed through much of Saturday's third round. Eight different players led or shared first in the third round, but it was Pressel that emerged on top.

Pressel birdied the first hole, but elected to hit driver instead of three- wood off the third tee and landed in a bunker. She bogeyed the hole, but got the stroke back with a birdie at the par-five seventh.

Pressel squandered birdie chances at eight, nine and 10 and was angry she missed a short putt at the 10th. She saved a great par at 11 that was "probably the best hole of the day."

She missed another birdie chance at the 12th, but atoned for the error with back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 that gave her a share of the lead at nine- under par.

After three straight pars, Pressel knocked a three-hybrid club seven feet short of the flagstick. She rolled in the eagle putt to take the outright lead.

"I felt like I played well," said Pressel. "I'm just confident in my golf swing. I feel the most confident with my golf swing this week than I have in a very long time."

Pressel has two LPGA Tour victories. She won her only major at the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship, then came back the next year and won at the Kapalua LPGA Classic.

Despite a two-year absence from the winner's circle on tour, Pressel can gain some momentum toward next week's Women's British Open. Although, she's not taking Sunday for granted.

"It would be wonderful. This is a big event." said Pressel. "I try to not get too far ahead of myself, although it's hard to do as the leader. I'm excited."

Suzann Pettersen (71), Song-Hee Kim (68), Anja Monke (70), Sun-Ju Ahn (71) and Meena Lee (72) are tied for 10th place at six-under 210.

NOTES: Pressel's best finish on tour this season was a tie for sixth at the Kia Classic, but she won this year's Salonpas Cup on the Japan LPGA Tour, which is a major on that circuit...World No. 1 and defending champion Ai Miyazato shot a two-over 74 and fell into a tie for 33rd at one-under par...Michelle Wie had a 70 on Saturday and is also part of the group at minus-one.