Lydia Ko and Inbee Park are playing to win the LPGA’s biggest season-ending awards.
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Ko, 18, started the day in a share of ninth place after shooting a steady opening round 69.
Kerr shot a 4-under 67 – her third straight round in the 60s this week – Saturday to match Jang at 13 under at Tiburon Golf Club.
The air at the LPGA’s last event of the year smelled like Monday finish. “She seems like she really likes this golf course”.
Matthew Millar overcame blustery winds to shoot a 3-under 68 – one of the best rounds of the day at Huntingdale – and take a one-stroke lead after three rounds at the Australian Masters. Park finished sixth, one shot ahead of Ko at 12-under, but one shot short of winning the overall spoils.
And Park wrapped up a trip to the LPGA Hall of Fame by winning the scoring title, meaning the only step that now remains between her and induction is completing her 10th season on tour next year, a prerequisite for eligibility.
Thompson produced three birdies on the front nine to pull within one of Kerr but had only one birdie after the turn.
“I’ve just got to think of it as another tournament”, she told reporters in Florida.
The figures dictated the stories but didn’t explain them. Americans Jennifer Song (69) and Cristie Kerr (69) were another shot off the pace, and Icher was in a group that also included Gerina Piller (70) and Brittany Lincicome (70) of the U.S.in a tie for fifth at 6 under.
“It wasn’t ideal, but I just try and not think about it anymore and kind of go to the next hole, thinking it’s a whole new hole”, she said. The tears stopped after a few moments, but it was a rare show of that emotion. “I wanted to come here and finish the year strong, I accomplished that”, she said.
“I’m happy that the season is over and I can relax now”.
That all gets more complicated if Ko doesn’t win. “It’s probably the most I’ll cry on TV ever”.
“I mean, it would be awesome”, Ko said. “I couldn’t be more proud of her”.
“She didn’t know the scenario – she had no idea”, said Ko’s caddie, Jason Hamilton. She’s been stoic all week.
It was an exciting and action-packed weekend, and the Tour’s culminating event put an exclamation point on a great year for the LPGA.
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Thompson was third, taking home $100,000 in bonus money – though she spent much of the afternoon in position to sweep both the $500,000 first prize and the $1 million bonus.
