NAPLES, Fla. – A windy afternoon along the Gulf Coast of Florida played right into the hands of Sandra Gal on Friday in the LPGA Titleholders.

Gal controlled the flight of her ball and picked up three birdies on the back nine at Tiburon Golf Club, giving her a 3-under 69 and a three-shot lead going into the weekend of an LPGA Tour finale that pays $700,000 to the winner.

The 28-year-old German has spent much of the year working on a shorter swing and hitting a variety of shapes and trajectories, and that was put to good use in the blustery conditions. And the fact she opened with a 64 didn't hurt.

''My advantage was yesterday,'' Gal said. ''Shooting 8-under was big. Today it was hard for everybody to catch up. That's what gave me that three-shot lead.''

Gal was at 11-under 133.