Ko takes one-stroke lead at ANA Inspiration
LOS ANGELES: Ko Jin-young birdied five holes on the front nine to seize slim lead over two other South Koreans heading into the final round of the ANA Inspiration, the first major of the LPGA season.
The 23-year old from Seoul fired a four-under 68 to lead second round leader Kim In-kyung as the Korean juggernaut steamrolled its way to the top of the leaderboard at the Mission Hills Country Club course near Palm Springs, California. Four of the top seven players are Korean-born.
Ko said she is going to stick to her game plan going into Sunday’s fourth round.
“I just have to play golf, 18 holes,” she said. “I am not nervous, and I am not afraid.”
Ko’s round was far from perfect as she stumbled down the stretch with a double bogey and bogey on Nos. 14 and 15 respectively to reach a eight-under 208 total.
The reigning LPGA rookie-ofthe year led by five strokes at one stage after sinking a long putt on the par-four 10th.
But her tee shot on 14 landed in the water and she dropped further with a bogey on the next hole which saw her lead cut to just one stroke.
“I’m not a robot, I’m human,” Ko said about the pitching wedge wobble on 14. “Everyone can do a miss shot. Doesn’t matter. It happens sometimes.”
Kim is in sole possession of second place and just one stroke back after shooting a one-over 73.
She struggled on the front nine but bounced back on the back and closed with a birdie on the last hole.
Lee Mi-hyang and KoreanAmerican Danielle Kang are tied for third at five under 211, three shots back of Ko.
Lee blasted a superb hole-in-one on the 181 yard 17th hole to put herself into contention.
Kim was trying to look at the big picture after a frustrating round in which she surrendered a threeshot lead to start the day.
“I quite lost it,” she said. “I don’t know what it is, expectations I could (not) live up to.
“I was tough on myself but I learned a lot and tomorrow is another day.
“I hit many good shots. So far, it is already my best year.”
The 30-year-old Kim is hoping to redeem herself after missing a 35 centimetre (14 inch) putt on the 18th hole of the 2012 tournament that would have delivered her the championship.
Instead she went into a playoff with compatriot Yoo Sun-young where she lost on the first extra hole.
Despite her final hole stumble in 2012, Kim is not without a major victory. In 2017, she captured the Women’s British Open, in a season that saw her win three times on the Tour.
Canada’s Alena Sharp, Australian Katherine Kirk and Lee Jeongeun6 of South Korea are tied for fifth at three-under. Sharp shot the best round of the trio with a five-under 67.
In addition to the professionals, five amateur players are competing in the event continuing a longstanding tradition of exemptions for top women amateurs.
Patty Tavatanakit, who is ranked third in the world, is the top amateur in the field after shooting an even-par 72 on Saturday to move into a tie for 50th with seven others - including fellow Thais Ariya Jutanugarn and Pornanong Phatlum. - AFP