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BSP-03
GOLF-USLPGA
Ko, Larsen set up final round duel in Toronto
TORONTO, Canada, Aug 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – World number one Ko Jin-Young
and Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen set up a final round duel at the Canadian
Pacific Women’s Open on Saturday after battling to the top of the leaderboard
following a low-scoring third round.
Overnight leader Broch Larsen carded a six-under-par 66 to finish the day
on 18 under par alongside South Korean star Ko, who posted a bogey-free
seven-under-par 65 in perfect conditions at the Magna Golf Club outside
Toronto, Ontario.
Both players however can expect a strong final-round challenge from
Canadian defending champion Brooke Henderson, who mounted a spectacular
closing charge to haul herself into contention.
Henderson finished the third round two shots off the lead after a seven-
under-par 65.
Broch Larsen, who started the day one shot clear, needed a moment of magic
on the 14th to maintain her place at the top of the leaderboard heading into
Sunday.
The Dane had dropped to 15 under after a bogey on the 10th, and then could
only watch as Ko made birdie to take sole possession of the lead at 16 under.
Both players added birdies at the 12th to remain within a shot of each
other.
With the pair parring the 13th, the action moved to the 14th where Larsen
conjured up a brilliant eagle three on the par five to move to 18 under.
Not to be outdone, Ko then rolled in a birdie putt to also move to 18
under.
Earlier, Canadian favourite Henderson recovered from a disastrous start,
which saw her drop two shots in her opening six holes with bogeys on the 4th
and 6th, to launch a spectacular charge near the turn.
A trio of birdies on the 8th, 9th and 10th holes took her back to 10 under
and she then leapt to 12 under with a brilliant eagle three on the par-five
12th hole.
Two more birdies on the 13th and 14th holes moved her to 14 under.
She then drained long birdie putts on the 16th and 17th to close to 16
under, leaving her just two off the lead.
Henderson is three shots clear of Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling, who moved
steadily up the leaderboard into fourth place with a seven-under-par 65.
Three players — Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn and
Amy Olson of the United States are a further shot back on 12 under, six
strokes behind Larsen and Ko.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0935 hrs