South Korean So Yeon Ryu, who has been remarkably consistent with only one bogey in three rounds – on her 10th hole on Saturday – was seven shots behind Chun in fourth place.
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New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, the world number one and defending champion, was not at her best, but managed to scramble her way to a 70 and is certainly not out of touch.
“I’m trying not to think about winning”, she said.
The field also includes Brooke Henderson (Canada), In Gee Chun (South Korea), Carolta Ciganda (Spain), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Charley Hull (England), Anna Nordqvist (Sweeden) and Stacy Lewis (United States).
Ko truly announced her arrival on the biggest stage as a 16-year-old when she finished second in Evian in 2013 – the year it became the fifth major in women’s golf.
The 19-year-old Kiwi was tied for 36th place – 19 shots behind leader In Gee Chun after shooting 75 on Sunday.
“Before the round, I felt really nervous today. but I could see the putting lines very well and I was so good rolling the ball on those lines”. “It was a pretty tough hole”.
“When I first played the 18th hole on Sunday, this past Sunday, a lot of memories (came back)”, Ko said.
Chun grabbed a two-shot lead by carding a five-under 66 in the second round. Pettersen won this event two years ago when it was shortened to 54 holes because of rain and the expectation is that she is in for another strong finish as her focus narrows at the end of the season.
“With how I feel about my shot, I have no problem”, said Park. The first tee time will be 8:04 a.m. local time with the final group teeing off at 10:05 a.m.
She became the youngest major champion in LPGA history with her six-shot triumph, sinking a 15-foot birdie putt to close with a final-round 63 for an LPGA record low last round by a victor at a major.
Ko and Jutanugarn are trying to win the Annika Major Award, rewarding the major victor with the best combined record at all five majors of the season.
U.S. Senior Open victor Gene Sauers, Craig Parry, Jay Don Blake, Kevin Sutherland and Tom Pernice Jr. were 4 under.
“It was really good experience for me, and then the thing I have more confidence, and then I got my passion back in the Olympics”.
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The tourney is being held in Evian-Les-Bains, France. “That puts me under too much pressure”.
