Ko third in Naples, has eye on bigger prizes
As LPGA season nears end, teenage golfer is in position to win titles, $1-million bonus
NAPLES, FLA.— Cristie Kerr and Ha Na Jang are leading the tournament. Lydia Ko is leading everything else.
And with one round left in the LPGA Tour season, there’s plenty left to decide.
Kerr shot a 6-under 66 — her third straight round in the 60s this week — Saturday to match Jang at 13-under at Tiburon Golf Club. Jang closed with a bogey for a 69.
The top-ranked Ko and Gerina Piller were tied for third at 11-under, and 14 players are within six shots of the lead going into the final round. Ko had a 69, and Piller shot 67.
But what matters more to the 18year-old Ko is all the tournaments within this tournament — she goes into Sunday in position to hang on to the world’s No. 1 ranking, plus walk away with the player of the year award, the scoring title, the money title and, for the second straight year, the $1million Race to the CME Globe bonus.
“We both had really, really good seasons and somebody is going to become 1 and somebody is going to become 2,” said second-ranked Inbee Park, who’s chasing Ko in all those year-end races.
“That’s just the way it is. I’m just trying to tell myself I had a really good enough season this year. I’ve earned what I wanted to earn, what I wanted to achieve. The rest is just a bonus.”
Lexi Thompson (67) and Brittany Lincicome (68) were tied for fifth at 10 under, as was France’s Karine Icher (68). Park shaved two shots off her score for the second straight day, shooting 67 to get to 9-under, five shots from the lead and two shots back of Ko.
Canadian Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 1-under 71 and was tied for 29th at 3-under after three rounds. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was at even par, for the day and the week, and was tied for 43rd.
“I think it’s great for the tour,” said Stacy Lewis, who was at 7-under and could win the $1 million bonus if she wins the tournament. “I think you’ve got a big purse. Everybody is showing up, everybody is ready to play. It’s going to be great TV and theatre. That’s what you want at the end of the year.”