Lee leads Womens' Astralian Open

South Korea's Lee Chang-hee held a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Womens' Australian Open on Saturday, closely pursued by two Americans and a group that included four-time champion Karrie Webb.

South Korea's Lee Chang-hee held a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Womens' Australian Open on Saturday, closely pursued by two Americans and a group that included four-time champion Karrie Webb.

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Lee shot a 2-over 75 on Saturday at the Metropolitan Golf Club, her second-round lead shrinking by one stroke. Her 5-under total of 214 was one better than the American pair of Alison Walshe (69) and Beth Allen (73), who were tied for second.

Webb, who is attempting to win a third straight Open and her fifth overall, shot 75 and is in a four-way tie for fourth with Choi He-young of South Korea (71), Australian Emma Bennett (73) and Tania Elosegui of Spain (75), two strokes off the leader. Laura Davies of Britain, who won the Australian Open in 2004, was the biggest mover Saturday, shooting 67 for the best round of the day and at 2-under 217 the veteran is three shots back. Davies was in a five-way tie for eighth that included American Diana D'Alessio, who shot 69 Saturday.

"The conditions were perfect and I had a couple of pretty good stretches," said Davies.

Her best run was 4-under in three holes _ a birdie on the par-3 13th, another on the par-5 14th and an eagle on the par-5 15th. Davies also had three birdies in a row on the front nine. Katherine Hull, a US LPGA Tour regular who won last week's Australian Masters at Royal Pines, shot 70 on Saturday and is tied for 26th, six strokes back.