Ariya Is Two Shots Behind Ko at Women's PGA Championship
Thai No 1 Ariya Jutanugarn remained on track for her Major hope as she carded a gutsy 68 for an even par 213, two behind world No 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand after round three of the KMPG Women's PGA Championship in Seattle.
Ariya who set the record as the first woman ever to win her first three straight LPGA titles sank seven birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey for a third round 68. She was tied at fourth with Amy Yang, Anna Nordqvist, Chella Choi, Mirim Lee and Brooke M. Henderson.
Ko made bogey on the final hole to finish at two-under 211 as she has a 54-hole lead in a major championship for the first time in her career.
The 19-year-old Kiwi won the 2015 Evian Championship and 2016 ANA Inspiration and with a victory on Sunday she would become the first to win three consecutive majors since Park In-Bee in 2013.
Ko came from behind to win both of her major titles.
On Saturday, she had a one-shot lead on 18 when her ball bounced off a tree near the green on the par-four 423-yard finishing hole at the Sahalee Country Club course near Seattle, Washington.
That gave Brittany Lincicome had a chance to take a share of the lead with Ko, but the American three-putted the 18th for a bogey and a 71.
Gerina Piller failed to connect on a 35-foot putt on 18 which would have moved her into a tie with Ko. The American finished with a par and a 71 to tie Lincicome for second place.
All three will play in the final group Sunday.
Canada's Brooke Henderson, who led after the first and second rounds, recorded a second straight 73 and was two shots behind in a tie for fourth with Amy Yang (66) of South Korea, Ariya (68) , Chella Choi (69) of South Korea, Anna Nordqvist (69) of Sweden and Lee Mi-Rim (73) of South Korea.
