TIANJIN — Brett Rumford tamed the strong winds at Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club on his way to a third round 69 that gave the Australian a one-stroke lead at the China Open Saturday as he remained on course for back-to-back European Tour wins. Rumford, winner of last week's Ballantine's Championship in a playoff, recorded three consecutive birdies from the sixth and parred the other 15 holes to move ahead of overnight leader Mikko Ilonen of Finland at the $3.2 million co-sanctioned event. “That was a tough day,” Rumford told reporters after finishing the day on 12-under par for the tournament. “I really started to feel things on the back nine. I did really well to hang in nicely with some tired golf swings. I mentally stayed with it - physically not so much, but mentally I hung in there.” Ilonen, who had a three-stroke cushion heading into the weekend, started and ended his third round with bogeys for a one-over-par 73. The Finn, who is looking to end a six-year trophy drought on the European Tour, has already finished ninth in Qatar and second in Morocco this season and was happy to be in the mix once again. Spain's Pablo Larrazabal shot a 69 to lie two shots behind the leader in third, while Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who won his maiden European Tour title at the Malaysian Open in March, sits alone in fourth place, a further stroke adrift. Ariya clings to LPGA lead In Virginia, Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn fired an even-par 71 Friday to keep a one-stroke lead after the second round of the $1.3 million LPGA Kingsmill Championship. The 17-year-old, who is playing on a sponsor's exemption, stood on seven-under 135 after 36 holes for a one-stroke lead over US veterans Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford. Norway's Suzann Pettersen, German Sandra Gal and American Cristie Kerr were fourth on 137 with China's Feng Shanshan, Japan's Ai Miyazato, South Koreans Lee Il-Hee and Ryu So-Yeon and Americans Juli Inkster and Katie Burnett on 138. Ariya, of Bangkok, captured her first professional title in March, when she won the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco on the Ladies European Tour by three strokes. On Friday, she began her round off the 10th tee and opened with a bogey, then stumbled back with bogeys at the par-4 16th and par-3 17th. All came with missed putts from within five feet. She found her form with birdies at the par-5 third — where she rolled in a 45-footer — the par-3 fifth and par-5 seventh to jump back into the lead. World No. 1 Park In-bee of South Korea fired a 72 to stand on 140, five off the pace in a share of 19th, while defending champion Shin Jiyai of South Korea also shot 72 to stand on 142 in a share of 27th. — Agencies
