Another sub-par round leaves Ko in contention

LYDIA KO couldn’t quite catch leader Mirim Lee in the third round of the Kia Classic, but the Kiwi teenager did manage to increase her LPGA Tour underpar streak to 27 rounds.

Ko dropped two late strokes in a round of 67 and will head into the final round four shots behind Lee in a tie for fifth.

Lee fired a 6-under 66 to reach 16-under par 200 at Aviara, one stroke ahead of former UCLA player Alison Lee in the final event before the first major of the season next week at Rancho Mirage on Saturday.

Ko, 17, moved to within two rounds of matching Annika Sorenstam’s LPGA Tour record for consecutive rounds under par of 29 set in 2004. Ko also pushed her worldwide streak to 30.

‘‘It’s definitely a little frustrating, and especially finishing off with a bogey,’’ the world No 1 said. ‘‘But I had an 18-yard putt, and you just don’t want to be in that position in the first place.

‘‘Everything balances out. I chipped in for eagle and all that. It could have been a worser day, could have been better. But I know that I’m hitting the ball well, so hopefully I can take this to tomorrow and give myself a lot of opportunities.’’

Mirim Lee had five birdies and a 6-foot par save on the par-4 18th in a back-nine 31. The 24-year-old South Korean won LPGA Tour events last year in Michigan and China.

The 20-year-old Alison Lee had her second straight 66. She’s making her fourth LPGA Tour start as a professional. Last year, she won the Pac-12 title as a freshman at UCLA and was comedallist at Q-school.

Ko eagled the par-4 seventh with a 10-yard chip and birdied holes 8, 11, 13 and 14 to take the lead at 14 under, but hit into the water and made a bogey on the drivable par-4 16th and lost another stroke on 18.

‘‘Overall, the last couple days, I felt like my irons were really solid,’’ Ko said. ‘‘I was kind of on and off with the long clubs, but I felt like I hit the ball well, and that means I could be a little bit more positive about it. The only really loose shot was that tee shot on 16 and my second shot on 18. But it’s good that I’m confident enough that I can go for these tough pin positions.’’

Cristie Kerr and Japan’s Sakura Yokomine were tied for third at 13-under. World No 2 Inbee Park was in a group at 10-under after a 68.