Lydia Ko still on top at LPGA Tour Tournament of Champions
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Lydia Ko signing autographs after the third round of the Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on Jan 20.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
FLORIDA – New Zealand’s Lydia Ko carded a four-under 68 on Jan 20 to remain atop the leaderboard after three rounds at the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida.
The world No. 12 entered the day in a tie for first with Japan’s Ayaka Furue before playing bogey-free golf with four birdies at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club. She now sits in sole possession of the lead at 12-under 204.
“I was able to attack pins and not get worried about am I going to miss the fairway or not,” she said. “I may not execute it the way that I want to, but I felt comfortable and really good out there.”
Teenager Alexa Pano (67) is two strokes off the lead in second, while Ally Ewing (68) is third at 208.
World No. 25 Furue struggled, posting a 73 to slip into a tie for fourth. Joining her on 209 are Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, who both had 71s.
After making par on each of the first seven holes, Ko started to heat up, sinking back-to-back birdies at the par-four eighth and the par-five ninth.
She picked up her last two birdies at Nos. 11 and 14 to put herself 18 holes away from her first victory on the LPGA Tour since November 2022, when she won the Tour Championship.
The Kiwi former world No. 1 has 19 LPGA Tour victories, including two Majors. She has not had a bogey since picking one up in the first round at the par-three 17th.
“I played solid these past few days. It’s just great to kind of feel these nerves and excitement. I think because I am at home in ways, maybe the nerves are a little less than if I was somewhere else,” said Ko, who resides in Orlando. “I’m excited for (the final round).”
Meanwhile, Pano finished with five birdies en route to her first bogey-free round on the LPGA Tour.
“I didn’t know what was my first one ever. I know I’ve been close a few times and bogeyed coming down the stretch,” the 19-year-old American said.
“I’m having a great time. I don’t know if anyone is having more fun than me.
“I’ve been playing pretty solid all week.” REUTERS, AFP
