Michelle Wie six shots off the pace as light rain hits Dubai


DUBAI, Dec 11 - The clouds hung heavy and low, often breaking into showers, but the inclement weather in the afternoon failed to deter South Korea''s In Kyung Kim from extending her lead, going into the final round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Club on Friday.

The world number three carded a steady round of 67 to go 14 under for the tournament, a good three shots ahead of new Swedish sensation Anna Nordqvist, who shot a brilliant 65 - the day''s best score -- to make a fine charge up the leaderboard.

Maria Hjorth, the first round leader, was sitting alone in third place with 10-under-par 206 while Michelle was left bemoaning the shots that got away. She slipped down the leaderboard after posting one-under-par 71 and was lying tied fourth - six shots off the pace -- on eight-under-par 208 along with Gwladys Nocera, Amy Yang and Tania Elosegui.

Spain's Elosegui, who scored a hole in one on Thursday, once again produced the shot of the day, holing from 126 yards on the par-4, 14th for an eagle. "I didn't hit a good shot and I thought it was too short, but it rolled into the hole," said the Spaniard.

Playing in light drizzle alongside Wie, Kim started strongly when she chipped in from 20 feet for birdie at the 331-yard par-four second hole. She picked up another shot at the par-five third hole when she two putted from just off the green.

The only blemish on the card was a bogey on the eighth, but Kim regained a two stroke lead after she holed a clutch birdie putt at the ninth for an outward total of 33, two under par. She came back in 34, three-under, after birdies on holes 13, 14 and 17.

"I'm very happy with how I played today. I played very solid again. I made some putts and left some putts, but I tried hard, and I think 5 under is not bad," said Kim, who has callous on her fingers from learning to play the guitar with her friends.

Drawing on the experience of earning two LPGA titles, she said: "I've got to play my game. I have to play, you know, what the golf course gives me, and go out there and have some fun."

Wie is mixing playing in the tournament with taking her final exams at Stanford University, which she sends back over the internet. She carded two birdies against one bogey in her third round.

"I felt like I hit the ball pretty solid. Just not all the putts went in," Wie said afterwards. "It was very frustrating, because I was hitting these shots or I had these birdie chances. I had birdie opportunities. I just couldn't take advantage of them today.

"They were just missing the hole a little bit here and there and it was frustrating. But that's done with and hopefully I can shoot lights out tomorrow."

Nordqvist, who stands to win the Ladies European Tour's Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year Award on Saturday, grabbed a share of the lead after she sank a long putt at the 15th for her seventh birdie of the day, but couldn't match Kim over the last three holes.

"I'm very excited. I think I was seven behind going into Madrid: got into the playoff, so, anything can happen," Nordqvist said.

Nordqvist has had a tremendous year and currently lies 7th in the Rolex world rankings - the highest ever world ranking for an LET player in their rookie season. She has won two LPGA titles including the LPGA Championship, which is a Major.

"I have had a really good year so far. One more round before I get to go on my Christmas break. It will be a good day and lots of fun and I love playing golf in all conditions, so it will be a good challenge for me," she said.

There is all to play for in the race to seal the Ladies European Tour's official Henderson Money List title on Saturday, with just a stroke between the top two ranked players Sophie Gustafson and Catriona Matthew respectively.

The Ricoh Women's British Open champion Matthew starts the final round a stroke ahead of Gustafson at six-under-par in a share of eighth position with Jade Schaeffer, Melissa Reid, Vikki Laing and Laura Davies; while Gustafson starts the day alone in 13th position at five under par overall.

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