Nelson Mail

Ko mid-pack in Classic

- GOLF

Lydia Ko is in a six-way tie for 17th place after three rounds of the Kia Classic - but is still just four shots off the lead.

The 20-year-old Kiwi shot a twounder 70 with five pars and three bogeys yesterday at Aviara Golf Club at Carlsbad, California.

Ko is seven-under for the tournament with a total of 209 - four shots behind the three joint leaders.

Lizette Salas, Eun-Hee Ji and In-Kyung Kim share the lead after Cristie Kerr blew a five-stroke leading, shooting a 70.

Kerr was tied with Caroline Hedwall, Wei-Ling Hsu and Cindy LaCrosse, and four players were another shot back in the final event before the major ANA Inspiratio­n next week at Mission Hills.

The 40-year-old Kerr had a double bogey on the par-4 15th after snap-hooking a drive into the trees.

The 2015 winner at Aviara, she had a two-putt birdie on the short par-4 16th and a bogey on the par-4 18th.

Ji had a 67 to match Salas (69) and Kim (69) at 11-under 205. Salas had a chance to pull away, but missed birdie putts of 1 1/2 feet on 16 and 2 1/2 feet on the par-5 17th.

Anna Nordqvist had a 66 to top the group at 9 under.

Top-ranked Shanhan Feng (69) and Lydia Ko (70) were four strokes back at 7 under. Inbee Park, coming off a victory last week in the Founders Cup in Phoenix, was 6 under after a 68. Singapore winner Michelle Wie had a 68 to get to 5 under.

 ?? DONALD MIRALLE ?? Lydia Ko shot 70 in the third round of the Kia Classic in California.
DONALD MIRALLE Lydia Ko shot 70 in the third round of the Kia Classic in California.

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