SINGAPORE — Defending champion Jin Young Ko shot a second consecutive 7-under 65 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Nelly Korda into the final round of the LPGA’s Women’s World Championship.
Ko had a 54-hole total of 14-under 202 after another weather-delayed day at the Sentosa Golf Club. She birdied four of her first five holes and two of her last three.
“I tried to focus really hard over the front nine,” Ko said. “I felt, ‘Yeah, today is a good day, so keep going.'”
Americans held the other leading positions.
Korda shot 68 on Saturday and was in second place, followed by first-round leader Elizabeth Szokol, who was three behind Ko in third place after a 70, and Allisen Corpuz, who also shot 70.
Second-round leader Danielle Kang was in fifth place after a 72, four strokes behind Ko.
Korda said weather suspensions over the past two days “have been really, really long” and that she had to make sure she stayed mentally alert.
“After the rain delay, I actually bogeyed No. 10 and had to tell myself to refocus because, after such a long delay, just kind of lose it in a sense,” Korda said. “You’re not in a zone like you were playing nine holes before and you had the momentum.”
Corpuz said she plans to stay aggressive during the final round.
“I’ve had a tendency in the past to get a little more conservative, I think, under pressure, and I think just knowing that what it’s going to take just staying aggressive and still trying to play the same way that I did the last three days,” she said. “I will just try to take that mindset into tomorrow.”
No. 1-ranked Lydia Ko shot 70 and was at 7-under, seven strokes behind.