Jessica Korda hit six birdies to take a two shot lead in the third round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Saturday, while Lydia Ko, a South Korea-born New Zealander, remains firmly in the race for the title.
Ko trails her American rival Korda by just three shots as they go into the final round on Sunday.
Friday’s leader Jang Ha-Na of South Korea and American Stacy Lewis trail Korda by two strokes with world number one Inbee Park, who is vying for the title, four shots back.
Ko, who hit three birdies and an eagle to card a 68 and ended the day nine-under par in the tropical heat, is hoping for a good finish on Sunday.
“I have been watching a lot of great golf and maybe it led to me to do the same. I just got to focus on my game. The other girls are making a lot of birdies and playing really good golf, so for me to win … I need to play some solid golf,” she said.
World number two Ko is aiming for her third straight title after winning the Evian Championship last month to become the youngest-ever winner of a woman’s major at 18.
Ko also won the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in August.
Her South Korean rival Park, who won the Women’s Championship and British Open this year, turned in an unexceptional performance at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, with four birdies and four bogeys for an even par-71.
Park had hit a field-high eight birdies on Friday to pull within two strokes of the lead at the halfway point.
Defending champion Feng Shanshan and Lin Xiyu are also in the race after posting 69 and 71 to be tied fourth with Ko.
Meanwhile, Malaysia will continue to host the LPGA tour for the next three years, Musa Hitam, Sime Darby Foundation chairman, the organiser of the championship, told reporters on the sidelines of the tournament. Malaysia has played host since 2010.