Korda
moves top in Singapore, eyes rare sibling double
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[March 03, 2018]
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Nelly
Korda fired a seven-under 65 to move into a one-stroke lead heading
into the final round of the HSBC Women's World Championship on
Saturday as the American targets both a first LPGA Tour victory and
a rare sibling double in Singapore.
The 19-year-old started the third round four adrift of overnight
leader Danielle Kang but overhauled her compatriot with a
scintillating run of eight birdies in 11 holes to end the day on
15-under at the 63-player limited-field event.
Kang, meanwhile, was unable to match her blemish-free golf of the
first two rounds and dropped her first shot of the tournament on the
15th and another on the last after finding a greenside bunker to
fall out of a tie for the lead.
Despite relinquishing her grip on top spot, Kang still has a
three-stroke cushion over Canada's Brooke Henderson, who also shot a
65, and Australia's Minjee Lee, the duo tied for third on 11-under
after another day of low scoring.
Should Korda hold on to her advantage on Sunday, she will follow up
older sibling Jessica's victory in Thailand last week to make them
the first sisters to win back-to-back tournaments on the LPGA Tour
since Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam in 2000.
"I was hitting it really well off the tee. I was aggressive when I
needed to be. I rolled a couple putts in that resulted in
seven-under," Korda said of her third round.
"I'm very happy with how it ended but I still have 18 more holes to
go. There's still a bunch of great girls, great golfers up on the
leaderboard near me," she added, before turning her thoughts to the
possibility of a second Korda win in two weeks.
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"It would definitely be really exciting, but I can't think about it
too much. I'm just going to relax and take it shot-by-shot."
Jessica, though, is still close enough to win consecutive events on
her own after the 25-year-old signed for a 68 to leave her in a tie
for fifth, alongside compatriots Marina Alex and Michelle Wie, and
Korea's Ko Jin-young, five shots off the lead.
Korea's Jenny Shin and Jang Ha-na are level with Briton Charley Hull
on nine-under and with the New Tanjong Course offering plenty of
birdie opportunities, everyone in the top-10 will be hoping for a
fast start to put pressure on their rivals.
Kang rued her last hole lapse but is looking forward to chasing her
second LPGA Tour victory on Sunday.
"I didn't want to finish on a bogey but it was a really unlucky lie
on the fairway, quote fairway, got plugged in the bunker," said the
American whose only other tour victory was at last year's PGA
Championship.
"But I gave myself a really good par chance and I ended up one shot
behind the lead. Got 18 more holes to play and that's a lot of
golf."
(Reporting by John O'Brien; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
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