LPGA Tour

Ko and Kung share lead heading into final round of Canadian Pacific Women’s Open

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Lydia Ko (Harry How/ Getty Images)

Coquitlam, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Lydia Ko and Candie Kung share the 54-hole lead heading into the final round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

“Overall I played really solid today, so I’m happy with the way I’m hitting it and the way I’m putting it,” Ko said. “I think every round, unless I shoot 18-under par, I’m probably going to say, hey, I knew it could have been better. But no, I’m playing solid, and that’s the mind-set I’ve got to have and just have fun out there tomorrow.”

Ko recorded four birdies against a lone bogey on 18 to shoot a 69. Kung’s play was more up-and-down with four birdies and three bogeys.

“Feeling pretty good today,” Kung said. “I hit the ball good and it was actually one of the best ball-striking days I had all week. Just missed a couple putts here and there. Those were all wrong reads. But I’m hitting it good, putting it good.”

Ko will be looking to become just the third golfer to win three Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship titles, joining Meg Mallon and Pat Bradley.

Kung, a four-time winner on the LPGA Tour, is coming off of her best finish of the year with a tie for second at the Cambia Portland Classic last week and will be looking for her first victory since the 2008 Hana Bank-KOLON Championship.

“I’m actually very relaxed,” Kung admitted. “After what I went through last week, I’m actually feeling quite comfortable where I’m at right now.”

Chasing Ko and Kung in the penultimate group will be Alison Lee, who shot a third-round 65 to sit two shots back and Karine Icher who is three back at 9-under.

Alena Sharp remains the top Canadian after a 1-under 71 has her tied for 28th at 2-under for the championship. The Hamilton native will look to go even lower Sunday.

“I want to go out and have a good Sunday here,” Sharp said. “I didn’t look at the scoreboard out there, but a 67 or 68 tomorrow would be nice.”

Brooke Henderson recovered from a rough start to shoot an even-par round of 72. The 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., missed a short birdie putt on her opening-hole, had a bogey on the second hole, and then hit the water on No. 3 for a double-bogey.

Henderson, who had sister Brittany as her caddie Saturday, settled down with birdies on No. 6 and No. 7. and then put together a string of pars before ending the day with a birdie to get her round back to even-par.

The final-round gets underway Sunday at 8:40 am PT with the final pairing teeing-off at 2:50pm PT. Tickets are still available at the gate and kids 17 and under are free.