Tseng leads; Wie is tied for 14th

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Michelle Wie shot a solid 3-under 69 yesterday to move into a tie for 14th at 2-under 214 at the Canadian Women's Open, trailing front-runner Yani Tseng by a dozen strokes.

Since opening with a 3-over 75 on Thursday, Wie has been steady and true the last 36 holes, playing the par-72 course in 5 under par. Wie carded three birdies in her bogey-free round, but still needs a phenomenal finish today to avoid having to go to Q-school to earn her LPGA card.

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OTTAWA » Yani Tseng finished off a course-record 8-under 64 in the rain-delayed second round, then shot a 68 in the third to take a four-stroke lead yesterday in the Canadian Women's Open.

Tseng, the 19-year-old Taiwanese star who won the McDonald's LPGA Championship in early June and finished second two weeks ago in the Women's British Open, had a 14-under 202 total on the tree-lined Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club course.

"Every week I'm ready to win the tournament," Tseng said. "I finished second four times and I really learned a lot each time. I don't feel surprised because I keep learning and working hard and being relaxed.

"I have to play my own game and not think too much. I have a four-shot lead, so there's a lot of room to play good."

Se Ri Pak (68) was second, and defending champion Lorena Ochoa (74) and Katherine Hull (72) were 8 under. Paula Creamer (70) and Song-Hee Kim (71) were 5 under.

Pak had her first LPGA Tour hole-in-one, acing the 178-yard fifth with a 6-iron.

"It was a surprise to see it go in," said Pak. "Of course, you don't expect anything like that. That probably made my day."

Michelle Wie, using the last of her six LPGA Tour exemptions this year, was tied for 14th at 2 under after a 69. She opened with rounds of 75 and 70.

"I'm making a lot more putts than I did the first day," Wie said. "All I can do is play the best I can and try to shoot a low score. I'll focus on being consistent, hitting fairways and greens."

Annika Sorenstam (76) and Suzann Pettersen (70) also were in the group at 2 under.

"I feel fine. I just didn't play well today," Sorenstam said. "I actually hit a lot of good shots, I just never converted. Obviously, I'm very disappointed."

Tseng returned to the course early yesterday to finish the final eight holes of the second round. She birdied the final four holes to break the course record of 65 set by Martha Nause in the 1994 du Maurier Classic and matched Friday by Hull.

Tseng had seven birdies and three bogeys in the third round.

"I feel great, but I'm so tired," Tseng said. "It was such a long day and I had a headache, so I just tried to concentrate on every shot."

Funk on the verge of major victory

SUNRIVER, Ore. » For the first time in his career, Fred Funk will enter the final round of a major tournament with the lead.

"I'll be a little nervous or have some anxiety tomorrow," said the 52-year-old Funk, who led after two rounds at the U.S. Senior Open two weeks ago. "But I think if you don't have that, there is something wrong with you."

Funk moved into position for his first major victory on the Champions Tour, shooting a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Jay Haas after the third round of the JELD-WEN Tradition.

Funk, the winner of the season-opening MasterCard Championship on the Big Island, had a 16-under 200 total on the Crosswater Club course -- one stroke off the 54-hole record in the tournament.

Haas, the Senior PGA Championship winner in May, shot a 66. Tim Simpson (69) was 13 under, and Tom Watson (68), Joe Ozaki (64), Scott Hoch (66) and Mike Goodes (69) were another stroke back. Scott Simpson (67) and Bernhard Langer (72) were 10 under. Langer and Tim Simpson were tied for the second-round lead.

Funk, an eight-time champion on the PGA Tour and three-time winner on the 50-and-over tour, had four birdies in a front-nine 32 and came home in 33 with birdies on three of the last four holes.

Funk said he plans to play the PGA Tour full-time next year. He sought treatment for a sore neck from a chiropractor after his rounds Thursday and Friday. One of the most accurate drivers on tour, Funk hit every fairway in regulation yesterday.