Sports > Hurst Leads LPGA State Farm Classic

Pat Hurst Shoots 7-Under 65 to Lead LPGA State Farm Classic by Three Shots After Three Rounds

Kim Williams pitches out of a bunker on the 16th green during the third round of the LPGA State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005. Williams' 40-foot shot went in the hole for a birdie; she shot a 6-under-par 66. (AP Photo/Seth Per

Hurst, who won the last of her three LPGA Tour titles in 2000, had eight birdies and a bogey in the third round to finish at 15-under 201 on Rail Golf Club course.

A week ago, she was tied for the lead on the last tee at the Wendy's Championship for Children in Ohio, but ended up losing to Cristie Kerr.

"Even with what happened, I brought a lot of confidence in from last week ... I'm hitting the ball pretty good, I just started making some putts," said Hurst, who will play on her fourth U.S. Solheim Cup team.

Kim Williams was second after a 66. She holed a 40-foot bunker shot on the par-three 16th for one of her seven birdies.

"That was a boost, no doubt about it," said the 42-year-old Williams, winless on the LPGA Tour.

Kerr, the winner last year with a tournament-record 24-under total, was four strokes back along with Scotland's Catriona Matthew. Kerr and Matthew, a member of the European Solheim Cup team, shot 67s.

"I haven't been hitting the ball that great, but toward the end I started getting the feel back," said Kerr, the U.S. Solheim Cup points leader.

Natalie Gulbis, another U.S. Solheim Cup player, shot a 70 to join Europe's Maria Hjorth (71), Hee-Won Han (70) and Heather Bowie (71) at 9 under.

Hurst said she will try to be aggressive Sunday.

"I don't think it's that comfortable since there are a lot of birdies out there. But I think if I go out and make some birdies I'll be OK," Hurst said.

Williams had had an injury plagued career that includes getting hit in the neck by a stray bullet in 1994.

"For a boring person, I've had a pretty wacky life," Williams said.

2005-09-04