VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Juli Inkster shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday in the rain-delayed third round of the Canadian Women's Open for a share of the lead with Beth Daniel.
Inkster, who won the Corning Classic in May for her 29th LPGA Tour title, birdied the fourth and fifth holes before the rain started, then came back after a 1-hour, 40-minute delay and immediately sank a lengthy birdie putt on the par-4 sixth. The 43-year-old star added birdies on the par-3 15th and par-5 18th.
Daniel shot her third straight 69 to match Inkster at 9-under 207. Daniel, 46, birdied the second, 11th, and 15th holes -- all par 3s. The 23-year LPGA veteran heads into the final round Sunday looking for her 33rd career victory, but first since 1995.
Daniel and Inkster -- both LPGA and World Hall of Fame members -- were the only two players without a bogey Saturday.
Kim Saiki was three strokes back after a 69.
After a week of warm, sunny weather, the clouds started to roll in Saturday morning and the sky opened up around 3:20 p.m., about and hour after the leaders teed off. Within minutes everyone -- and everything -- at Point Grey Golf and Country Club was soaked.
"It was a long day, raining, the golf course is tough and then we get wet, said Se Ri Pak, who played the final six holes after the rain delay. "I don't think it was fun."
Pak shot a 68 to join Grace Park (69), Donna Andrews (69), Janice Moodie (73) and Heather Bowie (72) at 4-under 212.
Johanna Head tied Inkster for the low round Saturday with a 67 that left her at 3 under.
"I had two holes to play (after the delay) and on the 17th my ball just stopped within three inches so the greens are getting softer, Head said. "I think the rough will be quite tough as well.
Moodie started the day one shot behind Daniel, but had a double-bogey on the first hole after the rain delay, and bogeyed the next two holes to fall back. She had two birdies on the back nine to get back to 4 under.
DIVOTS: Eighteen players are under par after three rounds. ... Dawn Coe-Jones, a 20-year LPGA Tour veteran who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame on Monday, was the top Canadian at 2-over 218.
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