Teske Chasing Compatriot Webb at Kroger Classic

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TOLEDO, Ohio (Ticker) -- Karrie Webb and LPGA Tour rookie Beth Bauer have a one-stroke lead over Rachel Teske entering Sunday's final round of the $1 million Jamie Farr Kroger Classic at Highland Meadows Golf Club.

Teske matched the best round of her career Saturday with a 7-under-par 64.

Last month, Teske, who was born in New South Wales, bet Webb, a native of Queensland, on a rugby match involving teams from the provinces. The third match of the three-match series ended in a tie, but because Queensland had won last year's series, it retained the title.

"We get along pretty well," Teske said. "I owe her dinner on that one."

When asked if the dinner would be at a fast-food restaurant, Teske said, "I wish, because I'm paying. I think she'll make me wait for an expensive week."

That is exactly what Webb intends to do.

"I'm waiting until we play in New York," she joked.

Webb was no slouch Saturday, shooting a 5-under 66 that includes eight birdies, including four in a row on the back nine. She nearly eagled the par-5 18th, hitting the stick with a sand wedge before tapping in to run her three-round total to 10-under 203.

Teske was feeling good, too. After wasting the first-round lead with a 2-over 73 on Friday, her bogey-free round matched her career best from the 2001 Sybase Big Apple Classic. She closed with consecutive birdies on the finishing par-5 holes.

Teske and Webb will not be in the same pairing Sunday. They are friends -- as are most of the Aussies on the tour -- but Webb admitted they probably don't spend as much time together as they should.

"We're both caught up in our own busy schedules, so we don't get to dinner as much as we'd like," Webb said. "We did play a lot of amateur golf together, so we've known each other. I was about 14 when I met Rach."

"I've known Karrie for a long time," Teske said. "We played a lot of junior golf together. It's great to see her playing well again, to see her in contention."

Also in contention is Bauer, the 22-year-old Duke alumnus who shot her second straight 67. She won four times last year on the Futures Tour, but playing alongside Webb in the final round will be a bit more of a challenge.

Others looking for a little luck are Heather Bowie, who birdied three of the last four holes en route to a 66 that left her at 8-under 205, two shots back. She is one shot in front of Kelli Kuehne and second-round leader Laura Diaz, who shot a 1-over 72 to tumble out of the top spot. Diaz is looking for her third win of the year.

Four shots off the lead at 207 are Shani Waugh and Se Ri Pak, who shot a 68. Pak also has won twice this year and has put her own personal stamp on this event, winning it three of the last four years.

The $1 million event has a first prize of $150,000.

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