HAINAN, China — Jessica Korda caught Minjee Lee Saturday in the Blue Bay LPGA. Ariya Jutanugarn made up even more ground to move into contention for her sixth victory of the season.
Korda shot a 6-under 66 at Jian Lake to make up seven strokes on Lee for a share of the lead, and Jutanugarn had a 65 to cut her deficit from eight to two shots and get in the final group Sunday.
In hot and mostly calm conditions four days after Typhoon Sarika hit the South China Sea beach resort, Korda had five birdies in a six-hole stretch and got up-and-down for another on the par-5 18th.
Lee had a 73, also getting up-and-down for birdie on 18 to match Korda at 11-under 205. The 20-year-old Australian began the day six strokes ahead of Germany’s Caroline Masson after shooting 65-67 the first two rounds.
Korda hit an 8-iron to 6 inches on the 141-yard seventh to start the birdie spree.
Masson (71) was 7-under, and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum (69) was 6-under.
Michelle Wie (71) was tied for seventh at 3-under. Brooke Henderson (70) was another stroke back. Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (75) also was 2-under.
Lahiri takes lead
Overnight leader Justin Thomas dropped a stunning four shots over a three-hole span Saturday to hand Anirban Lahiri of India a four-stroke lead going into the CIMB Classic’s final round.
The American defending champion had been nearly flawless in seizing the lead in the first two rounds in Kuala Lumpur and looked on his way to retaining his sole PGA Tour title.
But Thomas, 23, went bogey, double bogey and bogey to start Saturday’s back nine, a stretch that may have decided the tournament.
He will need to be razor-sharp Sunday to catch Lahiri, who notched nine birdies for a seven-under-par 65, his best showing of the week.
Lahiri went to 19-under overall, while Thomas salvaged a 71 at the par-72 TPC Kuala Lumpur to drop four shots behind.
Thomas was tied at 15-under with Scotland’s Russell Knox, who shot a 68 Saturday.
One stroke further back at 14-under were Derek Fathauer and James Hahn of the United States, along with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
American star Keegan Bradley was at 12-under and former Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia at 11-under.
The $7 million tournament is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the PGA Tour and offers $1.26 million to the winner. — Agencies
