NEWS

Recari leads Kia Classic by two over Webb after late eagle in third round

By Forrest Lee
Published on
Recari leads Kia Classic by two over Webb after late eagle in third round

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Beatriz Recari drove the green on the 285-yard 16th hole to set up a 4-foot eagle putt and finished with a 3-under 69 on Saturday for a two-stroke lead in the Kia Classic.

Recari, the 25-year-old Spaniard who won her lone LPGA Tour title in 2010, had an 11-under 205 total at Aviara Golf Club.

Hall of Famer Karrie Webb was second after a 70. Winless since the 2011 Founders Cup in Phoenix, Webb dropped strokes with bogeys on Nos. 13 and 17.

Paula Creamer and I.K. Kim were three shots back. Creamer had a 71, and Kim shot 70.

Stacy Lewis, playing her first event since taking the No. 1 spot in the world from Yani Tseng with a victory last week in Phoenix, was four strokes back after a 69. Trying to win her third straight tournament, Lewis had an eagle on the par-5 eighth.