New Zealands Lydia Ko shot a 68 to take the lead on her way into the final round of HSBC Women’s World Championship on Saturday in Singapore.
KO mixed seven birds with three bogeys on a steaming day where the temperature hit 89 degrees on the Tanjong track at the Sentosa Golf Club. She finished the round of 10-under 206 for the tournament.
Charley Hull from England matched Kos 68 to catch the sole possession of second place, a shot back at 9 below.
Jeeno Thitikul from Thailand moved in violation of a round of 66, shortened seven birds and a lone bogey on the PAR-4 ninth hole to take possession of third place in 7-under 209.
And in fourth place, four shots back on 6-under, Minjee Lee from Australia (68), Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukar (70) and other round leaders is a limkin in South Korea, which had four bogeys on the day on the road to a 73.
KO, who has 22 careers, makes his 11th performance at HSBC without a victory there.
“I’m happy to be in the last group tomorrow,” Ko said. “I have been in the last group a couple of times at this event before and I have not necessarily taken it over the finish line, and I hope that tomorrow is the day to do it. … Whatever happens tomorrow I am just really excited for the season ahead. I am happy to be in battle and hopefully I can play some good golf and see where it puts me at the end.”
Hull had four birds and was one of only two players who published a bogey-free round. How her day began did not indicate that she would turn in a strong round.
“I woke up this morning and I was actually sick. I threw up and then I got my head together,” she said. “Then I actually did my personal best in my 5K driving in 26 minutes, hit another minute. I was pretty happy about it. Thirty seconds, actually. It kept me in a good space for the rest of the day. Just went out on the golf course and played golf.”
Thitikul has nine top-10 finish in a row, which goes back to last season. Her 66 bound for this week’s lowest round, and she did not predict the climb on the top list.
“It feels good,” she said. “I thought I won’t be on top of the top list so much this week. But who saw myself in, which, which is more than I expected.”
With a victory on Sunday, Thitikul would be the first Thai player to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
-Field level media
