Henderson, Korda lead LPGA major
Both at 12-under 204 going into final round of the ANA Inspiration
Brooke Henderson kept pouring in birdies as she tried to erase as much as she could from a sixshot deficit in the ANA Inspiration. Nelly Korda was trying to let off steam in the desert heat after dropping three shots in two holes.
Henderson eventually cooled down. Korda regained her touch.
Competitors since they were teenagers, they wound up tied for the lead Saturday going into a final round at Mission Hills that could be quite a show.
The 23-year-old Henderson, whose nine LPGA titles already are the most by a Canadian, tied the tournament record with a 30 on the front nine and settled for a 7-under 65. She is going for her second major.
Korda, the 22-year-old daughter of Grand Slam tennis champion Petr Korda, rallied with three birdies on the back nine for a 71 and joined Henderson at 12-under 204.
They will be joined in the final group by Katherine Kirk, who quietly went about her business with a 67 that landed the Australian in the final group, two shots behind.
Also two shot behind were Mirim Lee (71) and Lexi Thompson (69).
PGA: Brian Stuard closed with a scrambling birdie for a 6-under 66 and a share of the Safeway Open lead with James Hahn and Cameron Percy. On a day when eight players held or shared the lead, Stuard, Hahn and Percy emerged in front despite all three running into trouble at various times.
Champions: Steve Stricker and Miguel Angel Jimenez share the lead going into the final round of the Sanford International, with Fred Couples, Darren Clarke and Kevin Sutherland a shot behind after a low-scoring day.
European PGA: South African golfer George Coetzee takes a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Portugal Masters after shooting 5-under 66 in the third round. Guerrier and Masahiro Kawamura were joint second at one shot behind Coetzee.