Henderson poised to pounce as Mozo wobbles

This may be the tournament Lydia Ko made happen, but it is now officially Brooke Henderson’s to lose.

The 20-year-old Canadian, who won her first major in 2016, and is the second highest ranked player in the field (at 12), ended a strong third day of golf’s New Zealand Women’s Open at Windross Farm, south of Auckland, just a shot off the pace still being set by Spanish sensation Belen Mozo.

But everything appears loaded in the Canadian’s favour when this inaugural LPGA-sanctioned tournament reconvenes for its final round today earlier than scheduled (a two-tee start from 7.40am will see the last groups on the course by 10am) in anticipation of some bad weather.

Henderson’s third-round, fiveunder 67 – five birdies, no bogeys – takes her to a 14-under total of 202, just a shot back of Mozo who had her least spectacular round of the event in testing windy afternoon conditions, but hung tough to card a one-under 71.

The Canadian, a four-time LPGA Tour winner, has momentum, form, pedigree and confidence in her favour, not to mention a threeshot cushion on nearest pursuers, American Brittany Lincicome, who shot a third-round 66, and China’s Jing Yan, whose 70 included five birdies and two bogeys. They are tied for third on 205.

Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe, Wales’ Amy Boulden and Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura are tied for 5th on 10 under, a shot ahead of Spain’s Beatrix Recari, Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom. Kiwi hope Ko, who had a third-round two-under 70, is in a three-way tie for 11th at eight under, with a miracle required to lift the trophy for a fourth time.

Henderson was rapt to get through a tough afternoon blemish-free. ‘‘The wind really picked up on our back nine, so to have five birdies I’m really happy and definitely excited to be in the spot I’m in now, ‘‘ said the LPGA’s second youngest major winner, behind Ko.

‘‘But Belen has been playing awesome all week, and she is not going to give it up easily. There are also a lot of players right around me that could shoot a low number and steal it. Everybody has to go out and shoot a great number and make a lot of birdies.’’

But after a quality round, that included a brilliant birdie on the 282m par-4 15th where she chipped a runner from the longer grass to within a foot of the hole, she feels good about her position.

‘‘I feel like I’ve played really well all three days, and that definitely gives me a lot of confidence and momentum going into tomorrow. It all comes down to tomorrow now.’’ ’’ Mozo never managed to tear up the course like in her opening rounds of 66 and Friday’s 64, which included an ace on 13, but still a one-under 71, with three birdies and two bogeys, would have been satisfying as she chases her maiden victory.

The big-hitting Lincicome, with the day’s equal best round of 66, looks the most dangerous of the chasing pack. She birdied the par-5 2nd and eagled the par-5 5th to go out in 33 and came back in the same total with three further birdies.

The seven-time LPGA Tour winner from Florida played the four par-5s in four under, and slotted back into the grip-it-and-rip-it mode that saw her card a fiveunder 67 in the opening round.

She tagged her eagle on the 5th a ‘‘risk and reward’’ venture. ‘‘There’s a bunker right in my landing zone, and we thought if we can get past it then I’ll have a short iron into that green. I had 5-iron, aimed at the middle, got it on and it was nice to make a long putt.

‘‘I feel like I’m hitting the ball well, and playing well. The golf course sets up really good for my game I can kinda bomb it on most holes and not get in too much trouble.’’