SINGAPORE — South Korea's Choi Na-yeon birdied the 18th hole after a lengthy rain delay Saturday to take a share of the lead with Stacy Lewis at 14-under 202 ahead of the final round of the HSBC Women's Champions. Choi shot a 5-under 67 in the third round, while overnight leader Lewis had a 69. Paula Creamer, who injured her shoulder in a car accident after a tournament in Thailand last weekend, also had a 69 to move into third place at 12-under 204. Four golfers were in a group, three strokes behind Creamer — American Danielle Kang (70), Spaniard Azahara Munoz (72), South Korean Sun Young Yoo (72) and Thai 17-year-old Ariya Jutanugarn (72). Lewis and Choi were in the last group on the course at Sentosa Golf Club and had just teed off on the 18th hole when a thunderstorm rolled in, causing play to be suspended for nearly 2 1/2 hours. Lewis was up a stroke when they left the course, but when they returned, Choi hit a 10-foot birdie putt to pull even with the American heading into Sunday. The two golfers traded turns in the lead throughout the day, with neither able to pull away for good. Also in contention going into the final round is Ariya, the Thai teenager who has posted some impressive results since turning professional in December. Ariya's sister, 18-year-old Moriya Jutanugarn, is also in the field in Singapore. She shot a 71 and is in a tie for 19th place with top-ranked Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Spaniard Beatriz Recari at 4-under 212. LPGA denies malaria outbreak Golf officials denied rumors of a malaria outbreak on the LPGA Tour Saturday after Natalie Gulbis and Pak Se-ri pulled out of the event due to illness and staff members also fell sick. Tournament officials said South Korea's Pak had been cleared of malaria, while Gulbis was awaiting test results but attended a function in Singapore Friday and did not appear to be seriously ill. “Pak Se-ri withdrew this week due to illness. She does not have malaria, just flu-like symptoms,” said a spokesperson for the LPGA Tour. “Natalie Gulbis withdrew from the event Friday due to illness. She is getting checked in Singapore, but has not been given a diagnosis yet. LPGA officials are in contact with both players.” Some of the LPGA's rules officials have also fallen ill but they have not been diagnosed with malaria and were still going about their duties, officials added. Fears of an outbreak swirled after top coach Butch Harmon tweeted that America's Gulbis and Pak, who withdrew Wednesday and is now back in South Korea, were in hospital in Singapore with malaria. — Agencies
