Twice major victor Kerr overcame a bogey at the par-five first with birdies on five of the next six holes and added two more birdies on the back nine for the low round of the day at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
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World No.1, New Zealand teenager Ko (69), and Gerina Piller (67) were tied for third at 11-under, and 14 players are within six shots of the lead going into the final round.
Top-rated Ko fired a 69 while South Korea’s Park shot 67 to stand on 207 with Japan’s Ai Miyazato in a share of eighth, one stroke behind France’s Karine Icher and Americans Brittany Lincicome and Lexi Thompson. Lydia Ko was the player of the year and pocketed another $1 million bonus.
In addition to winning the Race to the CME Globe and the Player of the Year title, Ko also tops the Tour’s money list, and won a auto for finishing the regular season with the most top-10 finishes. She had a quiet, emotional moment.
Ko made the turn with two more birdies to reach 6 under on the round. “I tried my best but I’ve just got to take the positives and I’m happy the season is over and I can relax now”.
Kerr is 38, and says she doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Ko joined Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam and Americans Beth Daniel and Nancy Lopez as the only players in LPGA history to follow a Rookie of the Year season with a Player of the Year campaign.
The 18-year-old was second on eight-under after the second round, trailing leader Ha Na Jang by two shots and, equally importantly, sitting four strokes ahead of Inbee Park.
“I should be proud that I’m in this position”, Ko, 18, told reporters. But the South Korean was well aware of the task awaiting her if she wished to overhaul Ko and claim the top prizes.
“I didn’t know how these points worked out”.
“She didn’t know the scenario – she had no idea”, said Ko’s caddie, Jason Hamilton.
“I think the hole was smaller than the ball today”. “So I feel really good”. And Park wrapped up a trip to the Hall of Fame by winning the scoring title, meaning the only step that remains between her and induction is completing her 10th season on the tour next year, a prerequisite for eligibility. I got a little bit nervous and missed a couple of short ones …
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The Hall of Fame has been Park’s longtime dream, an aspiration that didn’t die through four lean, winless LPGA seasons following her U.S. Women’s Open win at age 19. I’ve earned what I wanted to earn, what I wanted to achieve.
