Min ... cognito? Teen tops LPGA

The 18-year-old could become the youngest major champion in tour history.

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. (AP) — The first surprise at blustery Bulle Rock was that someone could make eight birdies and shoot 65.

That gave way to a greater mystery Saturday at the LPGA Championship.

Just who is Na On Min?

She is an 18-year-old playing in only her sixth tournament as a pro, and her first major championship. And if she keeps playing like this, Min won’t need too many more introductions.

With four birdies over the last six holes, Min shot a 7-under 65 in testing conditions — by two shots the best score at Bulle Rock — to give herself a one-shot lead over Suzann Pettersen and a chance to become the youngest major champion in LPGA history.

“I’m just really excited,” said Min, who was at 10-under 206. “This is my first major. I’ll do my best to keep focus on each shot.”

She will play in the final group with Pettersen, who recovered from two double bogeys and her torturously slow play — it took more than 41⁄2 hours as a twosome — to shoot 71.

In the mix

Karrie Webb stayed in the mix with a 10-foot par save on the 17th hole and shot 71. She was two shots behind at 208, along with Angela Park (68), another 18-year-old rookie.

Pressel, bidding for the second leg of the Grand Slam, shot 70 and was only three shots behind.

Asked if she knew who Min was, Pressel was honest as ever.

“I did not,” she said.

But the score sure got her attention. Wind that brushed off overnight rain stuck around Bulle Rock and made it play as tough as it has all week. Min wasn’t the least bit bothered, overcoming a bogey on the par-5 second hole by keeping the ball in play, and close to the hole.

Pettersen finished her roller-coaster round with an 8-foot birdie on the 17th hole and was pleased to be in the final group of a major for the second time this year. Ten weeks ago, she had a three-shot lead at the Kraft Nabisco until a meltdown on the closing holes.

Michelle Wie finished before the leaders even arrived at Bulle Rock, and left unanswered was whether she would return.

She shot 83, her highest score against men or women since she was in the ninth grade, and was in last place among 84 players. Her left wrist, which she broke during a fall in late January, clearly bothered her and Wie wrapped it in ice after signing her card.

“I really want to play,” she said. “I just have to see how it goes tonight.”