Taiwan’s Teresa Lu shot a 69 in the horrendous conditions at Turnberry in Scotland on Saturday for an eight-under 208 total to share the lead at the Women’s British Open with South Korea’s Ko Jin-young, who also shot a 69.
Lu’s only victory on the LPGA Tour was the 2013 Mizuno Classic in Japan, but she adapted well to the alien conditions.
The 27-year-old had five birdies in her 69 and she said her aim for the final day was to stay relaxed and enjoy it.
Photo: AP
“Today I focused on playing low shots. It was fun,” she said.
World No. 30 Lu rolled a birdie putt just wide on the 18th hole that would have given her the outright lead.
“I have to try to stay relaxed because it’s going to be a tough day tomorrow,” Lu said.
Former world No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan was eight shots back on even-par after a third consecutive 72, while Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung was a shot further back after a 70.
Cheng Ssu-chia was on four-over following a 71, while fellow Taiwanese Hsu Wei-ling was eight shots further back after a disappointing 77.
The 20-year-old Ko had never been to Scotland and it is her first Women’s British Open, but the four-time winner on the Korean LPGA Tour battled wind and rain to grab a share of the lead after the third round of her first major.
Suzann Pettersen, the halfway leader, had a 72 for third place on seven-under, with world No. 1 Inbee Park poised for a final day attack on five-under following a 69.
Ko opened with rounds of 68 and 71 and her 69 contained four birdies — her only bogey was at the 16th — but even she was surprised by her elevated position on the leaderboard.
“Today was a really good score and I never thought I would be leading such a big tournament,” the smiling youngster said.
I only had one practice round, but I have a really good caddie,” she said.
The man carrying her bag is Jeff Brighton from nearby Girvan. They only met on Tuesday last week.
“He’s really nice and a very good player,” Ko said. “He tells me that it is always like this in Scotland. The sun, rain, wind — four seasons all in one day. I have never played in such terrible weather, but it is very different and I’m enjoying it very much.”
Six-time major winner Park was a big threat. The 27-year-old was another who carded a 69 and there is a hint that a great round is waiting to emerge from the South Korean.
“We always expect this sort of weather in Scotland, but I am really excited going into the final round,” she said. “Actually, today we were quite lucky because the rain didn’t last the whole way round.”
Pettersen, two shots ahead overnight, started with a bogey and was out in 38, but the 33-year-old world No. 6 birdied the 10th and 11th in a flawless back nine of 34 for a passable 72.
The best round of the day was a 68 by Amy Boulden of Wales for three-under, while world No. 2 Lydia Ko, joint second at halfway, could only manage a 73 and finished alongside Park on five-under, but she was still a danger.
Additional reporting by AP and staff writer
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