Winning a major nearly a year ago made Jeong Jang realize that success in golf is within her grasp.
The defending Women's British Open champion shot a 6-under-par 66 Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead in the Wegmans LPGA and edge closer to her second win in 6 1/2 years on the LPGA Tour.
Her wire-to-wire triumph at Royal Birkdale last July gave her the assurance that, ``OK, I can do it,'' said the 26-year-old South Korean, who chipped in from 15 yards at No. 5 as she ran off six birdies to surge to 11-under 205.
``I think (the win) changed everything _ my life and my golf.''
She leads fellow South Korean Mi Hyun Kim and rookie Brittany Lang by one shot after three rounds at the tree-lined Locust Hill course.
Another South Korean, rookie Sun Young Yoo, was tied for fourth at 8 under alongside Marcy Hart, Wendy Ward and Italy's Silvia Cavalleri.
Hilary Lunke, reverting to a putter she wielded in winning the U.S. Women's Open in 2003, excelled on the greens and shot 65, the day's best round, to jump to 7 under.
The 29-year-old Kim won the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open in April, her sixth career win but her first in nearly four years. She has six top-10 finishes this year, including a tie for third at the McDonald's LPGA Championship two weeks ago.
``Right now, I play very comfortable with my swing and ... short game,'' Kim said. ``So one shot (to make up) is not big deal.''
Lang, 20, the former Duke star who tied for second last year in the U.S. Women's Open, eagled the par-5 17th hole to keep her in second place through every round.
``I'm excited,'' Lang said. ``I'm just going to go out and try to play aggressively'' on Sunday.
South Korea's Shi Hyun Ahn, who led by one after both the first and second rounds, shot a 75 to slip to a tie for 19th at 5 under.
Defending champion Lorena Ochoa birdied the last hole for a 71 to get to 6 under. The Mexican star has two victories and five second-place finishes this year and tops the money list with $1,155,454 US, nearly $35,000 more than Karrie Webb, who shot 74 to fall to even par.
Jang has six top-10 finishes this year _ her best a tie for second at the ShopRite LPGA Classic three weeks ago.
Solid off the tee, she opened with two birdies _ knocking in a 15-foot putt on No. 2 _ and picked up two more on Nos. 15 and 16 by sinking putts from 15 feet and nine feet.
``I missed one fairway today and putting was really good,'' she said. ``Driver was key I think.''
Jang, who finished fourth here last year, thinks a low score will be needed Sunday to win ``because everybody is playing good at this course.''
Getting a second title will help keep her relaxed, Jang said, ``so I need to have a win soon.''
