Arimura leads Webb by one in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Chie Arimura, looking for her first LPGA victory, has a 1-stroke lead after posting a 1-under-par 71 Saturday at the HSBC Women's Champions tournament.

Arimura plays most of her golf on the Japanese tour and has played in just 11 LPGA tournaments but was steady Saturday with two birdies and no bogeys until the 17th hole. Her third-round 71 left her at 11-under 205 after 54 holes.

Karrie Webb, who has 36 LPGA titles to her credit, opened the day two strokes behind Arimura, but an 18th-hole birdie completed a 2-under 70 and pulled her within one stroke of the lead.

Three players are tied for third at 5-under. Yani Tseng (69 Saturday), Choi Na-yeon (71) and Yoo-Sun-young (73) are six strokes off Arimura's pace. Tseng was one of only four players in the 63-golfer field to break 70 Saturday.

Arimura opened her round with eight consecutive pars before a birdie at the ninth hole, where she also had birdies in the first two rounds. She added a birdie at the par-3 11th hole but gave that stroke back at No. 17.

Webb pulled into a brief tie with Arimura with birdies at Nos. 2 and 5 but had a bogey at the sixth hole. She also had a birdie at No. 9 but a bogey at the 14th hole had her three strokes back. After Airmura's bogey at 17, Webb cut the lead to one with a closing birdie.