Late bogey gives Ko shared lead at LPGA Canadian Open

Lydia Ko refused to let a late bogey ruin her round as the teenage phenom fired a three-under 69 to take a share of the 54-hole lead at the Canadian Women's Open.

The New Zealander was the frontrunner for most of the third round on Saturday and could have had sole possession of the lead heading into Sunday's final round, but a bobble at 18 snapped her string of 46 holes without a bogey.

"I played really solid," said Ko, 18, of Auckland. "My first bogey in the last two days, I will take that.

"I am just going to think of it as a whole new day tomorrow."

Ko, who is ranked second in the world, sank four birdies Saturday at the Vancouver Golf Club course as she boosted her chances of winning a third title in four years at this event.

Ko, who won the event in 2013 in Edmonton and as a 15-year-old amateur in 2012 on the same course, finished at 12-under 204 to become the co-leader with Taiwan's Candie Kung, who fired a 71.

Ko is ready for the pack to make a charge at the two leaders on Sunday.

"You just never know what is going to happen especially with some holes being on the shorter side," she said.

American Alison Lee matched the low round of the day with a six-under 66 to take sole possession of third place at 10 under.

First-round leader Karine Icher of France carded a par 72 and was alone in fourth at nine under.

Spain's Azahara Munoz rounded out the top five at eight under after a third-round 70.

Ko led Kung by one before her bogey, when she hit into a green-side bunker and missed a 10-foot par putt. Her last of four birdies came at the par-three 12th hole.

Kung, who shot a 64 on Friday to open a two-stroke lead, is bidding for her first LPGA Tour victory in close to seven years.

The 34-year-old veteran began the day with a bogey and followed with a birdie in an up-and-down round of three bogeys and four birdies.

China's Feng Shan-shan (67) and Lin Xiyu (73) were tied for sixth in a group with three others at seven-under 209.

World number one Park In-Bee, the Women's British Open winner in her last tournament, was in a group at six under, six strokes back of the leaders.

Canadian teenager Brooke Henderson fired a par 72 and was at one over heading into the fourth round.

The 17-year-old Henderson is playing her first event as a full-fledged LPGA member after winning the Portland Classic last week.
Source: AFP