Ko leading heading into final round of Founders Cup
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Sixteen-year old Lydia Ko birdied two of the final four holes Saturday to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the LPGA JTBC Founders Cup at the Wildfire Golf Club.
Ko, who turned professional in October of last year, shot a five-under-par 67 for a three-day total of 200. She is looking for her first LPGA victory as a pro after five previous victories in pro events. Only two were LPGA Tour events -- the 2012 and 2013 Canadian Women's Open.
Second-round leader Mirim Lee and Jessica Korda are tied for second place at a 15-under 201. Korda has 12 birdies and no bogeys in her last two rounds.
Sun-Young Yoo bogeyed the final hole to fall two shots off the pace.
Azahara Munoz and Michelle Wie are among a group of five who are three strokes off the lead at 203. Munoz birdied eight of her final 13 holes to shoot a no-bogey 64, one short of the course record.
Ko was two strokes behind second-round leader Lee, her playing partner, before a two-shot swing on the par-5 15th hole moved them into a tie.
Lee put her drive into a waste area left of the fairway and was forced to take an unplayable lie. She punched out onto the fairway and missed a 12-foot par putt after reaching the green.
Ko reached the 15th in two and had a tap-in birdie to move into a tie for the lead. Ko took the lead on No. 17, when she rolled in a 10-foot birdie to go to 16-under.
Ko won the CN Canadian Open as an amateur twice in the last two years, in 2012 becoming the youngest woman to win an LPGA event.
Defending champion Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer are four strokes off the pace. Creamer birdied seven of eight holes, starting with No. 8 to threaten the course record, but a bogey on the par-4 16th hole brought her in at 64.
Cristie Kerr, one of the first to tee off Saturday, tied a course record with a nine-under- 63 and is five strokes behind the leaders. Ai Miyazato set the course record with a 63 last year.
Kerr, who needed a birdie on her 17th hole Friday to make the cut at 2-under-par through two rounds, birdied her first two holes and four of her first six en route to a 31 on the front side Saturday.
She chipped in on the par-4 No. 12 and made a 20-foot eagle putt on No. 15 after driving with the 5-wood. She tied the record with a 15-foot putt on the par-3 No. 17. Kerr's only Saturday bogey was a three-putt on No. 14.
