Washington (AFP)– Following a third-round 67 at TPC Boston on Saturday, Ko Jin-young of South Korea took a two-shot lead in the FM Championship on the LPGA Tour.
Ryu Hae-ran, Ko’s countrywoman, blasted a six-over 78 on Friday, her terrible round knocking her four shots off the lead after her incredible 10-under 62 on Friday had given her a six-stroke lead.
Ko had four birdies before the turn, and even though the par-4 15th hole dealt her a blow with a bogey, she recovered to make birdies on the final two holes.
The 29-year-old Ko, an LPGA Tour winner twice, has 15 career victories and was named Player of the Year by the LPGA in 2019 and 2021.
Nonetheless, she is hoping to win for the first time in 2024; her most recent triumph came at the Cognizant Founders Cup in May of last year.
Nine times out of the twelve times that Ko has led an LPGA event into the final round, she has won.
“I’m trying to be a very competitive person; that’s why if I get in the lead, I think it’s good motivation for me,” stated Ko.
“This golf course is difficult, so I believe I need to concentrate and tell myself over and over again, ‘You can do it, you got this.'” I’m excited about tomorrow,” she continued.
The only player to shoot in the 60s in each of the three rounds is the in-form American Lauren Coughlin, who shot a 3-under 69 to trail Ko by just two shots going into the final round.
Despite her dissatisfaction with her performance, Coughlin managed to win her first two tournaments this year and could win a third this month at the Scottish Open. She finished the round with four birdies and one bogey.
“However, I won’t focus on that too much tomorrow. I’m doing everything I can to conserve my remaining energy since I can clearly feel a little tired. Concentrate on me; that’s what I can control,” she remarked.
Three players—Spanish player Carlota Ciganda, American Allisen Corpuz, and Thai player Atthaya Thitikul—are three shots off the lead.