Lydia Kos remarkable eagle at the final hole has kept her in contention for another title.
The New Zealand golfer needed the help of a friendly kiss off a playing partner’s ball to deflect her excellent approach shot into the 18th hole at the HBSC Womens World Championship in Singapore on Saturday.
Lydia Ko celebrates after draining an eagle on the final hole during the third round of the Women’s World Championship.
The eagle meant Ko finished the third round in a tie for fifth and four shots back of new leader Lin Xiyu after carding a three-under 69 to move to 10-under overall.
READ MORE:* Masked golfer Hyo Joo Kim taking extra care at LPGA tournament in Singapore * Lydia Ko four shots off the lead at HSBC World Championship in Singapore* Silver medallist Lydia Ko keen on more success at 2021 Tokyo Olympics
I hit a really good drive and then obviously with the pin being tucked on the right, nice to have a short club in and hit a good committed 50-degree and I hit it perfect, Ko said.
So nice to make an eagle and to do that on the last makes my life easier to finish this round. Lunch is going to taste great after that one.
Ko had endured an up-and-down day, often struggling with her tee shots, leaving her to try and salvage par with her fine short game on a number of occasions.
I played really solid on my front nine and on the back I made some really clumsy mistakes,” she said.
Overall I putted really well and holed some really good birdie putts and holed some good par and bogey putts, as well. Nice to finish off with a two on the last.
That Ko had just two bogeys on her card was a tribute to her short game she was was often wayward with her driver and made a memorable par on the sixth hole after a snap hook off the tee.
Xiyu Lin shot a five-under 67 to grab the lead late in the day, one shot ahead of Australias Hannah Green, who shot 66, and South Koreas Inbee Park, the second-round leader who faltered with a double bogey on 16.
Ko won her first LPGA tournament in three years when she triumphed at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii in April.
