MOBILE - Stacy Lewis extended her lead in the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic on Saturday, firing seven birdies in a five-under 67 that gave her a two-shot lead over Brittany Lincicome going into the final round.
After two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine of the par-72 The Crossings course, Lewis -- who led by one after the second round -- caught fire coming in with five birdies in the space of six holes. Back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 were followed by three in a row from the 15th as Lewis built a 54-hole total of 14-under par 202.
"Something clicked," said Lewis, who blasted out of a fairway bunker to eight feet at the 12th. "Everything just seemed to slow down. My caddie told me I just seemed to relax more. I just had a lot of fun coming in." Lincicome also posted a five-under 67 for her 12-under total of 204.
"It's going to be very exciting," Lincicome said. "It's fun to play with a friend because it kind of relaxes you a little. So going into it, we'll still be chit-chatting like we always do and just play as if it were just a practice round on Tuesday and not hopefully be overly stressed ... and just go out there and have a good time."
France's Karine Icher posted a 68 that included an eagle on the par-five 13th for sole possession of third on 205. South Korea's Sun Young Yoo and Australian Lindsey Wright both carded 69s to share fourth on 206. Six others, including Australian Hall of Famer Karrie Webb were within five shots of Lewis.
Webb carded a 64 to lead a group on 207 that also included teen phenom Lexi Thompson (66). Lewis, who won the 2011 Kraft Nabisco championship, said she was happy to be in position to win again and "just to kind of prove to people that the major meant something."
Lewis, who was two strokes behind Lincicome through 13, said she didn't look at a leaderboard after that. "You kind of get in a zone where shots are good and they're going where you want them to go and the putts go in," she said. Icher, seeking her first LPGA Tour win, holed out with a wedge for her eagle at 13. "It gave me good energy, and it was just after a birdie, so it was a nice couple of holes," said Icher, whose daughter, Lola, was born in August.