NEWS

Shin takes 2-stroke lead at Australian Ladies Masters

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GOLD COAST, Australia -- South Korea's Jiyai Shin shot a 2-under 71 for one of the few sub-par rounds of the day in post-cyclonic winds Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Australian Ladies Masters.

Strong winds from last week's Cyclone Winston in the South Pacific buffeted the Royal Pines course, and only nine of 75 players shot under-par rounds.

Shin had a 54-hole total of 10-under 209, two ahead of England's Holly Clyburn, who was tied for the late lead before bogeying her final two holes for a 72.

Clyburn was tied for second with Camille Lennarth of Swden, who shot 75.

Canadian Brooke Henderson, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 11, had a 74 and was in fourth place, three strokes behind.

Players were again frustrated by slow play, which resulted in rounds of more than 5 1/2 hours. Local television coverage ended with the leading groups still having three holes to play.

"The tour should put their foot down and step in with a few players. We play in the wind all the time in Europe. It wasn't a real factor," Clyburn said. "It is bad for everyone involved."

Shin wasn't too upset by the slow play.

"I'm a bit tired but will recover for tomorrow," she said. "When I came to the golf course this morning I said, 'Can we really play in this wind?'

"But I was prepared and patient. It was totally different golf to the first two days and I tried to focus on each shot."