South Korea’s Jang Ha-na maintained her lead by one shot after the third round of the weather-delayed Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio, on Saturday, though some of the golf’s biggest names were in hot pursuit.
LPGA Tour rookie Jang, still bothered by a back injury that has her finishing her swing with one arm, fired a two-under 69 to remain on track for a wire-to-wire victory at Highland Meadows Golf Club.
Seeking her first win on the LPGA Tour, the 23-year-old mixed three birdies with a lone bogey to post an 11-under total of 202.
Photo: AFP
Fellow South Korean Q Baek, who clinched her maiden LPGA Tour title at last year’s HanaBank Championship, was alone in second after a birdie at the par-five last earned her a 68.
South Korean world No. 1 Inbee Park also birdied the 18th for a 67 to share third place at nine-under with compatriot Chella Choi (65), world No. 2 Lydia Ko of New Zealand (67), China’s Feng Shanshan (68) and Austin Ernst of the US (66).
Former world No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan was tied for 16th place on six-under after a 71, while Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung (68) was a shot further back.
Hsu Wei-ling was on three-under after a 71, while fellow Taiwanese Min Lee was on even-par after carding a 70.
Jang, ranked 22nd in the world and a six-time winner on the Korean Tour, was well aware of the quality of the chasing pack, but planned to focus on her own game in yesterday’s final round.
“I think tomorrow [Sunday] my target is 15-under, so four more birdies is great, yeah,” Jang said.
“I don’t think about [any other] player, just myself... confidence and concentration and play. So tomorrow just one target — 15-under,” she said.
Jang’s closest pursuer, Baek, was hoping to draw on the experience of her breakthrough LPGA Tour victory where she beat Brittany Lincicome of the US and fellow South Korean Chun In-gee in a playoff.
Lincicome went on to claim the first major of this season, the ANA Inspiration in April, while Chun clinched the third, last week’s US Women’s Open in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“I learned a lot from the playoff I played against Lincicome and Chun last year,” said Baek, who carded three birdies in a bogey-free 68.
“I haven’t made it to the next level yet, so hopefully that [playoff win] will give me good confidence going into tomorrow [Sunday]. Hopefully, I step up to the next level,” she said.
Ko, who won last year’s Marathon Classic, was disappointed after failing to birdie either of the closing par-fives, but was happy with her position heading into yesterday’s final round.
“I think I was a couple shots behind last year, too, so I don’t mind the position I’m in right now,” Ko said. “It’s great to return to a course where you’ve played well.”
Additional reporting by staff writer
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at