Ko surges but eight off pace
WELLINGTON: Lydia Ko might have left her run too late after surging 37 places with a flawless thirdround 65 at the Marathon Classic in Ohio.
The Kiwi defending champion finally spread her wings at the Highland Meadows Golf Club, nailing six birdies to share 19th place on sevenunder.
However, former world No 1 Ko is eight shots off the lead held by American Nelly Korda heading into the final round.
Korda holds a twostroke buffer over another littleknown LPGA Tour player, Peiyun Chien of Chinese Taipei.
Ko’s round of sixunder — the equalbest by anyone on Saturday — featured five birdies in the space of nine holes. Teeing off at the 10th hole, her purple patch began on the 18th.
She has a shot at a decent payday, something that seemed unlikely late on Friday when she needed a finalhole birdie to make the cut.
The 20yearold hasn’t won a tournament since her Marathon Classic victory just over a year ago, sending her world ranking from first to fourth.
New Zealander Steven Alker has slipped down the leaderboard at the PGA Tour event in Alabama to a share of 20th place after three rounds.
Sitting sixth after two rounds at Grand National’s Lake Course in Auburn, the 45yearold New Zealander carded oneunder 70, mixing four birdies with three bogeys.
He is nine strokes behind outright leader Scott Stallings of the United States, who stormed into the lead with an 11under 60 which included an eagle and 10 birdies.
Alker has struggled for consistency, returning a promising opening fiveunder 66 before a spectacularly uneven second round which comprised seven pars, six birdies, four bogeys and a double eagle at the parfive fifth.