Teens stay on top Down Under

World number one Lydia Ko and fellow teenager Ariya Jutanugarn are tied for first in the LPGA Women’s Australian Open after both carded one-under72’s in Saturday’s third round.
Starting on the back nine, 17-year-old Ko bogied her first and last holes and shot three birdies in between. While 19-year-old Jutanugarn bogied on the first and 12th and birdied on the ninth, 14th and 17th holes.
Ko said that heat in Australia and the tough course at the Royal Melbourne made playing conditions incredibly difficult.
“You hit in on to the green and you have this humungous break. It’s tough in every aspect … it does feel like a major,” she told AP.
The New Zealander wasn’t the only player to struggle on Saturday. Several did not make par, while Japan’s Ilhee Lee was the only player to card a score lower than 70 after shooting a four-under 69.
Asked if she would accept a two-under 71 in Sunday’s final round, Ko said she would do so happily.
“Yes, I would. If I don’t have to play in that heat and get a 71 I’d take it,” she laughed.
South Korea’s Amy Yang is third on six-under after she carded a three-under 70 on Friday.
New Zealand’s Katherine Kirk and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada are tied for fourth on four-under after shooting three-under 70’s on Saturday.
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick: Falling short at US PGA Championship ‘hurts a hell of a lot’
Fitzpatrick carded a closing three-over-par 73 to miss out on the play-off between eventual winner Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris by two shots.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA Championship
Tommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Emotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA Championship
Paul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
Mito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.