Ryu Hae-ran, Mao Saigo lead entering final round of the Chevron Championship

HOUSTON – South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran shook off a shaky round on April 25 to fire a four-under 68 on April 26, grabbing a share of the lead through three rounds at the Chevron Championship in The Woodlands, Texas.

Ryu began her day with two pars and a bogey before heating up. She scored five birdies over six holes at The Club at Carlton Woods, including four straight from Holes 6 to 9 to get to four under through the first half of her round.

“Yeah, on the front nine it was so good for me because yesterday my shot is a little bad and I had some problems with it,” Ryu said.

“But I just learnt this course is more for the pin and I want to go for more easy putts and make some birdies and that’s a big key for me today.”

Windy conditions limited her success the rest of the way, but Ryu still maintained par in the back half.

“The back nine was so challenging for me because the wind started a little more stronger and the pin position was so tough, and my putter – almost in the hole but always go next to the hole and then make some easy pars,” Ryu said. “But yeah, it was so hard today.”

She shares the lead with Japan’s Mao Saigo, who balanced four birdies against a solitary bogey to shoot three under, putting her at nine-under 207 for the year’s first Major.

Saigo, 23, is seeking her first tournament win.

“I just need to focus on my golf game just one by one, and not only golf game but try to control my mental control, too, and hopefully, I will win,” Saigo said.

Lindy Duncan also remains in the hunt a stroke behind the leaders after her two-under 70. Her two-birdie day followed a sizzling 66 (with eight birdies) on April 25.

China’s Liu Yan, who led the field following the April 25 round in which she managed to net a rare three-under score on a hole (the par-five eighth), fell into a tie for fourth at seven under after her even 72.

Tied with Liu two strokes behind Ryu and Saigo is Sarah Schmelzel, who was one under on April 26. She pocketed birdies on 8 and 14.

Five golfers are in a tie for sixth place at six under, three strokes behind the leaders. Four of them shot a 70 on Saturday: American Lexi Thompson, China’s Yin Ruoning, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn.

They are tied with South Korea’s Choi Hye-jin (71).

On the PGA Tour, Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin moved into the lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans after posting an 11-under 61 in the April 26 best-ball format during the third round at TPC Louisiana.

They are at 27 under through three days going into the final round with a three-stroke advantage over two teams in Avondale, Louisiana.

Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III are lurking at 24 under after recording 60 in the third round. Japanese teammates Ryo Hisatsune and Takumi Kanaya are also at 24 under after posting a 61. REUTERS