For Ko, who set one of her myriad “youngest ever” records when she became the youngest victor of a women’s major at the Evian in 2015, there’s more on the line than a title defense.
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Her eagle on the 15th was a 35-yard chip from the back of the green that rolled up and across the green with flawless weighting, prompting her to raise her arm triumphantly.
ELVERSON, Pa. (AP) – Stewart Hagestad rallied to win U.S. Mid-Amateur title, overcoming a late four-hole deficit and beating Scott Harvey with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole. Ko won this event by six strokes a year ago when she finished at 16-under par, but each of the previous two winners won by two strokes or fewer.
Today could be a record-breaking day for Chun, who remains on course for the lowest 72-hole score in a major.
Chun was the overnight leader, with Park second and Shanshan Feng – China’s only major victor – two shots further back.
South Korea’s Sung Hyun Park, who shared the overnight lead with Chun, had three bogeys and six birdies in a round of 68 and was tied for second place with Shanshan Feng – China’s only major victor.
Two-time major victor Britanny Lincicome matched Chun’s best-of-the-day 66 in a mixed round of nine birdies and four bogeys.
Despite a double bogey at the par-5 9, Chun extended her lead through 54 holes by posting six birdies and an eagle to reach 19-under-par.
“It was tricky for me because on the back nine I was not hitting fairways”, the New Zealander said.
Ko bogeyed the eighth hole and she was again in trouble on the 10th when her tee shot landed in the rough between two trees.
World No. 1 Lydia Ko, the defending champion from New Zealand, had a 68 and, at nine behind on 138, is certainly not out of it.
Heavy rain is forecast for Sunday’s final round.
Victory in the year’s fifth and final major championship would give her a career set of six different major titles – the five existing ones plus the defunct Du Maurier Classic.
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PHOTO – In Gee Chun; credit Evian ChampionshipWritten and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the Sunshine Ladies Tour and WPGA. The record for the women is 19-under par, posted on four occasions and matched by Chun on Saturday.
