South Korea`s Chella Choi smashed the course record with 10-under-par 62 on Saturday as she seized the Women`s Australian Open joint lead alongside exciting 17-year-old amateur Minjee Lee.
|Last Updated: Feb 15, 2014, 09:09 PM IST|Source: AFP
South Korea`s Chella Choi smashed the course record with 10-under-par 62 on Saturday as she seized the Women`s Australian Open joint lead alongside exciting 17-year-old amateur Minjee Lee.
Choi, who is yet to win on the US LPGA Tour, carved up the back nine with birdies on 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17, and an eagle on 18, to lower the Victoria Golf Club women`s record of 64 set on Friday by Caroline Hedwall.
Perth teenager Lee, runner-up to Tiger Woods` niece Cheyenne at last week`s Australian Ladies Masters, shot a 68 to match Choi`s aggregate score of 13-under-par 203.
However, the joint leaders will be acutely aware of New Zealand sensation Lydia Ko, 16, who was lurking two shots back in third place after scoring 69 on day three.
Norwegian world number two Suzann Pettersen, who will reach the top ranking if she wins or finishes second, providing she is not tied with more than one other player, was three shots adrift in fourth.
The day`s events left the tournament tantalisingly poised heading into the final round with so much at stake for all four leading players.
Choi, the world number 28, is seeking her first win after turning professional in 2008, while Lee could announce herself to the world by becoming the tournament`s first amateur winner.
And South Korean-born Ko, already fourth in the world after winning twice on tour as an amateur, is within reach of her first LPGA victory since turning professional late last year.
Overnight leader Hedwall slipped to four shots back and a share of fourth after returning two-over 74, while defending champion Jessica Korda, who won last month`s season-opener in the Bahamas, was five adrift.
Cheyenne Woods, 23, carded 71 for a share of 23rd and has little realistic chance of recording back-to-back wins after last week`s victory on the Gold Coast, which was the biggest of her career so far.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.