ADELAIDE, Australia – American Lizette Salas shot a 2-under 71 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over two Australians and a Thai golfer heading into the final round of the Women’s Australian Open at Royal Adelaide.

Salas, who had a 10-under total of 209, was 1 over after the front nine, but rescued her round with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and another on the par-5 17th.

Despite her poor start, she joked about her round later.

“I started to think whether or not I tied my hair up too tight, or whether I should take off my sweater,” Salas said. “I didn’t get a start that I wanted to but today I felt like even par literally felt like under par. I rolled in a few putts when I needed to.”

Canadian Maude-Aimée LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., carded an even-par round for a two-way share of fifth at 7-under par heading into to Sunday’s final round. Countrywoman Alena Sharp recorded a 74 (+1) and sits tied for tenth at 5-under for the event.

South Korean-born Australian Su Oh had the round of the day, a 68, and was tied for second with fellow Australian and 36-hole leader Sarah Jane Smith (74) and Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand (73).

“It’s a little disappointing, I feel like I played pretty well,” Smith said. “I made a lot of soft bogeys today, where I feel like today’s the day where if you made some bogeys you’d be OK. Hopefully, we can get on top of that for tomorrow.”

Defending champion Haru Nomura of Japan had a second consecutive 69 and was in a group tied for seventh, four strokes behind.

No. 2-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, the LPGA’s Player of the Year and a five-time winner in 2016, shot a 71 and was at 4-under. Michelle Wie shot 76 and was at 2-under, eight strokes behind.

No. 1-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand was at even par after a 73 on Saturday, as was Canada’s Brooke Henderson.

Brooke and Brittany Henderson took to the course early on Saturday as the first “group” out in Round 3. Because of the odd number of players to make the cut (75) Henderson played on her own for the first time in her career and brisked through 18 holes in just over three hours, shooting even par with one birdie and one bogey.

“It took a little while to get the rhythm right because you’re normally waiting for other players and you have a little bit more time to process things, but at the end of the day it worked out really well and now I have the rest of the day to go experience Glenelg and Adelaide,” said Henderson.

Ko has a new coach, caddie and equipment.

“It takes time to get used to, but with the clubs actually, it hasn’t really taken a long time,” Ko said “Straight away I had a rough idea how far it was going and the flight itself. It’s something that I can trust, even though it’s only my first tournament with them.”

ADELAIDE, Australia – Sarah Jane Smith shot a 6-under 67 in tough, windy afternoon conditions Friday at Royal Adelaide to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Women’s Australian Open.

The Australian had a 36-hole total of 9-under 137.

American Lizette Salas shot 70 to move into a four-way tie for second. She was joined by Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand, who also shot 70, Marissa Steen of the United States, who had a 71, and Sweden’s Caroline Hewwall, who birdied her final three holes for a 69.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it,” Smith said of her chance to win her national championship. “Obviously, it would be a dream come true and something that every young Australian thinks about at some point. So to even be in this position right now is pretty exciting. I just need to control my nerves.”

First-round leader Katherine Kirk was in a late share of the lead until she double-bogeyed the eighth hole, her second-last of the day. She was two strokes off the lead in a tie for sixth after a 74.

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., had one of the best rounds of the day, a 68 that left her tied with Kirk at 7-under. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot 77 and was at even par, as was No. 1-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand after a 75.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton fired a 69 and was tied for ninth while Jennifer Ha of Calgary carded a 78 and failed to make the cut for the third round.

Salas said she recovered well during her round.

“I would be in trouble or miss an up-and-down, on the next hole I’d come right back with birdie,” she said. “I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdie and I’d miss them on the high side, so that’s something that I could work on on the putting green.”

Salas says she’s “in a good place right now” as she looks forward to possibly representing the U.S. at the Solheim Cup.

“The past two years I’ve been kind of hoping to get better as the year went on,” Salas said. “This year I really wanted to get a good start. Knowing it is a Solheim Cup year, so every tournament does count and I literally took no time off during the off season. It is a huge goal.”

Michelle Wie shot 71 and was at 5-under, four behind Smith. Wie had to overcome back spasms for most of her round, which started with a double-bogey.

“It was pretty bad out there, but hopefully to the physio and get it better for this weekend,” Wie said.

No. 2-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, the LPGA’s player of the year and a five-time winner in 2016, shot a second consecutive 72, and defending champion Haru Nomura of Japan rebounded from an opening 75 with a 69 to make the cut.

Five-time champion Karrie Webb shot 73 after an opening 76 and missed qualifying for the weekend.

ADELAIDE, Australia – Katherine Kirk set the early pace at the Women’s Australian Open on Thursday, shooting an 8-under 65 at Royal Adelaide to take a two-stroke clubhouse lead.

The Australian, playing her fourth week in a row, birdied four of her first five holes and three of four in the middle of the back nine.

“There are low numbers to be had out there,” said Kirk. “A lot of birdie opportunities, and I was just fortunate I got off to a good start and kept the momentum going.”

Tied for second were Marissa Steen and Jane Park of the United States and South Korean Chella Choi.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson was four strokes behind after carding 69, while No. 1-ranked Lydia Ko shot 71. Five-time champion Karrie Webb shot 76 ahead of the afternoon starters who included No. 2-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn, a five-time winner last year.

“Four birdies, no bogeys, I’m pretty happy and hopefully will shoot another similar round tomorrow,” said Henderson, from Smiths Fall, Ont., who played with Ko. “The crowds were awesome. I hardly ever see that many people on the Thursday round, especially when we tee off (early) in the morning.”

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., were tied at 2-under 71. Calgary’s Jennifer Ha was 2-over 75.

Ko was frustrated on the greens, but ended the day on a good note when she birdied the ninth, her last.

“I hit my drives good, which is really important around a course like this, but just the putts did not drop,” Ko said. “It was good to see a putt drop on the final hole and hopefully that will give me good momentum going into tomorrow.”

Webb had an up-and-down second nine after starting on the 10th. She was 3-over after bogeying the first – her 10th hole – but then went double-bogey, bogey, birdie, birdie, par to complete her round.

“A couple of late birdies at least made lunch taste better, but it wasn’t real good out there today,” said Webb.

Steen was in the first group out, and took advantage of it during her round which included an eagle on the third.

“The wind was low, the greens were rolling really pure. I was joking that I didn’t see a blade of grass out of place out there the whole day,” Steen said. “I didn’t trip once. I either hit every green or was right on the fringe where I was still able to putt, so I gave myself a lot of chances and took advantage when I had wedges in my hands.”

Steen, 27, didn’t start playing golf until she was 14.

“I played a bunch of other sports growing up, so focusing on golf I was a little late to it,” said Steen, who played at the University of Memphis in Tennessee for four years and then played Symetra Tour for three seasons.

CALGARY– Three-time LPGA Tour winner and eighth-ranked player in the world, Brooke Henderson is joining Canadian Pacific (CP) as its newest ambassador for the CP Women’s Open.

Henderson will join longtime ambassador Lorie Kane in representing CP and the CP Women’s Open over the course of the railway’s partnership with Golf Canada as title sponsor of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

“It is an honour to welcome Brooke to the CP team,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. “Brooke is the perfect ambassador for CP as we continue to grow the game of golf, advocate for healthy living through CP Has Heart, and build on the iconic Canadian brand that is CP.”

The 19-year old Canadian prodigy, born in Smiths Falls, Ontario, won the 2015 Cambia Portland Classic as a Monday qualifier, becoming the first Canadian to win on tour since CP ambassador Lorie Kane in 2001. After that win, and just prior to the start of the 2015 CP Women’s Open, LPGA commissioner Mike Whan granted Henderson membership on the tour, a unique allowance as nearly all members must be over the age of 18. Since then, Henderson has taken the LPGA by storm, consistently finishing at, or near, the top of the leaderboard.

“Smiths Falls is a CP town and a few of my family members proudly work at the railway,” Henderson said. “Being able to wear the CP logo is truly special, and I look forward to celebrating many more victories with CP and my rail family, which now includes thousands of CP’s hard working employees.”

Henderson is also a graduate of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Squad and Young Pro Squad supported by CP, which marked the beginning of her relationship with the railway.

With her win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2016, Henderson became the first Canadian to capture an LPGA major championship. She also represented Canada at the Rio Olympic Summer Games.

Henderson joins Kane – who blazed the trail for her younger competitors on her way to four LPGA Tour wins, the most by a Canadian – as a CP golf ambassador.

“I am excited to welcome Brooke to the CP family,” said Kane. “I look forward to teaming up with her to continue to grow the game and make significant contributions in the communities that CP has helped to build across our nation; especially as we celebrate Canada’s 150^th birthday this year.”

To coincide with Canada 150 celebrations, the 2017 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open will return to the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club from August 21 to 27. Through its CP Has Heart campaign, CP will once again make a significant donation to cardiac care in the host community, with funds benefiting improvements in diagnoses and treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. For tickets, corporate hospitality and volunteer information visit www.cpwomensopen.com or call 1-866-571-5742.

​​February is Heart Month and Canadian Pacific (CP) announced two major charity partnerships that will benefit the beautiful hearts of children and adults in Ottawa through the 2017 CP Women’s Open and CFL regular season, playoffs and Grey Cup.

The overall campaign, titled “Beautiful Hearts”, will support the refurbishment of facilities that patients use every day at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and University of Ottawa Heart Institute and celebrate the resiliency and spirit of the human heart.

CHEO is the official beneficiary of the 2017 CP Women’s Open at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, August 21-27. The University of Ottawa Heart Institute will benefit from all funds raised through our partnership with the CFL throughout 2017.

“CP is excited to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary in the nation’s capital while supporting two world-renowned hospitals by bringing the best LPGA golfers and CFL players together,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. “Through CP’s community investment program, CP Has Heart, the ‘Beautiful Hearts’ campaign will bring crucial support to both CHEO and the Ottawa Heart Institute this year.”

Each year, CHEO touches the lives of more than 500,000 infants, children and youth from Eastern and Northern Ontario, Western Quebec and Nunavut. To better care for all of these patients, CHEO will be embarking on a $1.8 million project to upgrade the hospital’s Catheterization Lab and Interventional Suite. A redesigned space, specialized equipment and pediatric specific training will be critically important elements in the health and wellness of CHEO’s patients.

“Technological advancements offering the clearest and most concise images for our doctors are a vital element of the Catheterization Lab and Interventional Suite upgrade that will be funded with the help of CP’s ‘Beautiful Hearts’ campaign,” said Kevin Keohane, CHEO Foundation President and CEO. “The result will be a technologically advanced suite that will allow doctors and technologists to more accurately diagnose, and more gently treat, vulnerable young patients.”

Born with a rare type of congenital heart malformation, Zander Zatylny underwent two open heart surgeries by age one. Now seven, Zander has had eight stents placed into both his right and left pulmonary arteries to improve blood flow. He requires regular monitoring and will need future interventions. He will benefit first-hand from real-time, 3D imaging that will guide his physicians during future procedures.

As children grow into adults, their care transfers to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Four days after her birth in Vancouver, Olivia Hiddema had her first open-heart surgery. At age two, Olivia and her family moved to Ottawa where the doctors and nurses at CHEO monitored her regularly as she progressed through childhood. When Olivia turned 18, she graduated from CHEO to the Adult Congenital Heart Clinic at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute where she underwent a second open heart surgery at age 20.

Olivia will directly benefit from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s largest expansion in its 40 year history, adding 145,000 square feet of state-of-the-art clinical space to the existing facility. This expansion will allow the Institute to continue to serve the cardiac care needs of Canadians, as the referral centre for hospitals throughout Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, Nunavut, and for many more patients from coast-to-coast who come to Ottawa for life-saving procedures.

“The next five years will be the most exciting of the Institute’s history,” said Jim Orban, President and CEO of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation. “Partnerships like the one with CP Has Heart are vital to the Institute’s evolution and support like this ensures that world-class cardiovascular treatment, programs and patient care are available today, shaping the lives of so many Canadians tomorrow.”

This week, as part of the Ottawa Heart Institute’s “February is Heart Month” campaign, CP is matching donations to a maximum of $7,500, turning your support into up to $15,000 for the Heart Institute. Donate at FebruaryisHeartMont​h.ca​.

For every retweet, Facebook share or ‘love’ reaction of the “Beautiful Hearts” video from the @CFL, the League will donate 50 cents to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

Stay tuned to @CPhasHeart on Facebook and Twitter and at CPHasHeart.ca to see how you can further contribute and help both charities in the coming months.

TOKYO _ Board members at the club that will host the 2020 Olympic golf tournament failed to make a decision about changing their policy of excluding women as full members.

The Kasumigaseki Country Club came under scrutiny recently when the International Olympic Committee inquired about the club’s membership practice. The issue surfaced in mid-January when Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike urged Kasumigaseki to admit women as full members.

The club’s board of directors convened a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss the issue but didn’t reach any conclusions.

All 15 board members have to agree to change the club’s by-laws. Kiichi Kimura, the chairman of the board, expressed bewilderment at the predicament.

“We discussed how we should respond after we ask our members how they feel,” Kimura said. “It’s extremely annoying the situation has evolved into what it is so quickly. Right now, we’re confused.”

Founded in 1929 as a private club funded by about 300 wealthy men, Kasumigaseki is one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in the country and has hosted more top level tournaments than any other Japanese course.

To join Kasumigaseki, an applicant needs to obtain a reference from a current member and pay 8 million yen ($70,800) to become a regular member first, then pay additional 4 million yen ($35,400) to be a full member.

The club does not allow women to become full members or play on Sundays. Only full members can play any day of the week.

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Brittany Lincicome won the LPGA Tour’s Pure Silk Bahamas Classic on Sunday in wind and some late rain, beating U.S. Solheim Cup teammate Lexi Thompson with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

Playing a group ahead of Thompson, Lincicome birdied the par-5 18th – after dropping strokes on 14 and 17 – for a 5-under 68 and 26-under 266 total. Thompson played the 18th as strong sideways rain blew through the Ocean Club, holing a 3-footer for her third straight par and a 70.

The first U.S. winner since Brittany Lang in the U.S. Women’s Open, the 31-year-old Lincicome won her seventh tour title and first since the 2015 ANA Inspiration. She’s projected to jump from 48th to 34th in the world ranking.

In the playoff on 18, Lincicome hit her second shot to 20 feet and tapped in for birdie. Thompson went through the green in two and missed a 15-footer to end the tournament.

Stacy Lewis, undone by a triple-bogey 7 on No. 14, was third at 25 under after a 71, and Gerina Piller (71) completed the Solheim Cup quartette atop the leaderboard at 24 under.

Lewis was second in 2014 and tied for second last year. She’s winless since June 2014.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., finished in a tie for 21st at 13-under 279. The 19-year-old shot a 70 in her fourth round. Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., tied for 24th at 12 under and Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was tied for 47th at 9 under.

Nelly Korda birdied the two late par 5s in a 67 to tie for fifth at 21 under in her first start as an LPGA Tour member. The 18-year-old Korda is the sister of Jessica Korda _ the 2014 winner who shot a 65 on Sunday to tie for 16th – and daughter of former tennis player Petr Korda.

Pornanong Phatlum matched Nelly Korda at 21 under, also finishing with a 67.

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Stacy Lewis had two back-nine eagles Saturday in the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Pure Silk Bahamas Classic to put herself in position again to end a long winless streak.

Lewis shot a 10-under 63 at Ocean Club to match Lexi Thompson atop the leaderboard at 23-under 196, one off the tour 54-hole record for relation to par set by Annika Sorenstam in the 2003 Mizuno Classic.

“That was probably the best round I think I’ve ever shot on tour in relation to par, so just a cool day,” Lewis said. “I didn’t exactly hit it perfect, got away with a few shots, but just took advantage of it. I didn’t even know what I shot there at the end of the day.”

Lewis was second in the event in 2014 and tied for second last year, one of her 11 runner-up finishes since her last victory in June 2014. She has 11 tour victories, including two majors.

Lewis holed out from the fairway for eagle on the par-5 11th, birdied the next two, and dropped a stroke on the par-4 14th. She birdied the par-3 17th and made a 12-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th. She had four birdies on the front nine.

“I knew I needed to be aggressive out there today, and it wasn’t pretty at times, wasn’t perfect, but the scorecard turned out great,” Lewis said. “You’ve just got to take advantage. When those miss-hits work out good, you take advantage of it, and that’s what I did today.”

Thompson followed her tournament-record 61 on Friday with a 66. She birdied the final four holes on the front nine and added two more on 14 and 15.

“Coming out here with no wind, it’s just you have to make a lot of birdies to make a move on anybody,” Thompson said. “I shot 7 under and I’m tied, so it’s crazy, but we will see what tomorrow will bring.”

Gerina Piller was a stroke back, birdieing the final two holes for her second straight 65. Brittany Lincicome, the leader after each of the first two round, had a 69 fall two shots behind.

“Really just keeping it in the fairway and keeping it close, and I have had several tap-in birdies, which always helps,” Piller said. “The greens are in great condition and that helps when you hit the ball on line.”

Lewis will join U.S. Solheim Cup teammates Thompson and Piller in the final group Sunday.

“That’s where I wanted to be,” Lewis said. “When I walked up on 18, kind of said I needed that putt to make sure I was in that last group. I think it’s important just to kind of know what’s going on. I did a good job of not looking at leaderboard today, and I want to continue doing that so you get a feel for what’s going on. It’s definitely the goal. The goal coming in this week was to have a chance on Sunday, and I did that, so now it’s just go out there and play golf.”

Israel’s Laetitia Beck ended the run of U.S. players on the leaderboard, shooting a 66 to get to 16 under. Nelly Korda matched Lewis for the round of the day with a 63 to jump from tie for 32nd to a tie for sixth at 15 under in her first event as a tour member. The 18-year-old Korda is the sister of tour player Jessica Korda and daughter of former tennis player Petr Korda.

“I’m so happy to be out here. It’s been my dream,” Korda said. “I was definitely nervous my first day and my first nine holes, and I’m glad I kind of got those nerves out of way, and now I can play some golf.”

Canadian Brooke Henderson was tied for 23rd at 10 under after a 73. Fellow countrywoman Alena Sharp also holds a share of 23rd after firing a 6-under 67.

U.S. Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster was 7 under after a 70. She’s starting her 35th tour season.

Second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn had a 72 to get to 3 under. She won five times last season and took the LPGA Tour player of the year award.

Lewis will join Thompson and Piller in the final group Sunday.

“That’s where I wanted to be,” Lewis said. “When I walked up on 18, kind of said I needed that putt to make sure I was in that last group. I think it’s important just to kind of know what’s going on. I did a good job of not looking at leaderboard today, and I want to continue doing that so you get a feel for what’s going on. It’s definitely the goal. The goal coming in this week was to have a chance on Sunday, and I did that, so now it’s just go out there and play golf.”

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Brittany Lincicome and Lexi Thompson led a U.S. Solheim Cup breakaway Friday in the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Pure Silk Bahamas Classic.

Lincicome shot an 8-under 65 to reach 17-under 129 at Ocean Club Golf Course, and Thompson had a career-best 61 to pull within a stroke.

“The way it’s been going the last two days, the putter has been making everything, which is obviously really fun. If I can keep that up, then it could be good on Sunday,” Lincicome said. “I’m just playing well, and still made everything today. Putter is on point right now and it’s exciting to see.”

Thompson was asked about the possibility of shooting 59.

“I thought about it, but I just wanted to keep on playing my own game and see where it goes,” Thompson said. “I was just pin-seeking the whole day. I was just trying to stay with my routine and have good tempo with my golf swing. That’s just all I’ve been working on.”

Lincicome broke the tournament 36-hole mark, and Thompson shattered the course record of 64 that Lincicome set Thursday. Lincicome had a hole-in-one on the par-3 12th, using a 7-iron from 161 yards.

“When it went in I was like, ‘Do I jump up and down or do I just wave my arms?’ There are so many thoughts that went through my head, but obviously it’s pretty fun,” Lincicome said. “I didn’t feel like I hit the greatest shot, but got away with it and pretty impressive.”

Gerina Piller was third at 14 under after a 65, and Stacy Lewis completed the Solheim Cup quartette at 13 under. Lewis had a 67.

“I’ve really been focusing on trusting my line and trusting my speed, trusting my stroke,” Piller said. “I feel like in my golf game, the long game tee to green I’m a feel player and it seems like my tendency to get on the greens, I kind of lock down and kind of get very mechanical. So really just focusing on really trusting what I have and trusting the line, speed that I choose.”

P.K. Kongkraphan and Megan Khang each shot 69 to reach 11 under. Canadian star Brooke Henderson (65) was 10 under along with Xi Yu Lin (67) and Austin Ernst (68).

U.S. Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster made the cut, following an opening 70 with a 72. She’s starting her 35th season on the LPGA Tour

Second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn advanced to the weekend on the number with rounds of 75 and 69.

She won five times last season and took the LPGA Tour player of the year award.

Michelle Wie dropped out, shooting 73-74.

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Lincicome played a six-hole stretch at Ocean Club in 6 under, capping the run with an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole. She added birdies on 11, 14 and 15, and had only 24 putts _ the first a 30-footer for par on No. 1.

“Putting, I have no idea,” Lincicome said. “We play, we play little games with my husband or friends or whoever, but it’s not like I go to the putting green and work on it for hours. Like it’s just one of those things, hit or miss. Like I had a par save on 16, I did it cross-handed. I putted the last little 2-footer in cross-handed. Just whatever I kind of feel, I just do it.”

The 31-year-old American won the 2015 ANA Inspiration for her second victory in the major and the last of her six LPGA Tour titles. She had the eagle and three birdies on the first four par-5 holes, then settled for a par on the par-5 18th.

“I was making everything _ 30-footers, 10-footers, 5-footers. It was a pretty easy day,” Lincicome said. “I didn’t really have to make too many par saves, which was nice. And would have loved to have had a 4 on that last hole to have no 5s on the scorecard.”

U.S. Solheim Cup teammate Stacy Lewis was two strokes back along with Megan Khang and P.K. Kongkraphan. Lewis is winless since June 2014.

Gerina Piller was at 67 with Celine Herbin and Simin Feng.

Second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn had a 75. She won five times last season and took the LPGA Tour player of the year award. Top-ranked Lydia Ko is skipping the tournament.

Fifth-ranked Lexi Thompson opened with a 69, and U.S. Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster had a 70 to start her 35th season on the LPGA Tour.

Defending champion Hyo Joo Kim shot 71, Canadian star Brooke Henderson closed with a bogey for a 72, and Michelle Wie had a 73.