In her last 100 holes she has just one bogey. In Ko’s last round two weeks ago she closed the ANA Inspiration, the year’s first major, with a 62. That was set at Ko Olina Golf Club, which hosted Lotte its first eight years. Ko and Korda surged ahead Friday, with Ko’s 21 under score after 54 holes a shot better than Lotte’s 72-hole tournament record. Women’s Open champ A Lim Kim and 19-year-old Yuka Saso, making her sixth LPGA start. Shin tied for sixth another two shots back with Wei-Ling Hsu, Sarah Schmelzel, reigning U.S. With her 63, she shared low-round honors Saturday with Jenny Shin. Park, who vacationed in Hawaii as a child, now has five Top-Five finishes at Lotte, but no wins. Kim beat Park in a Lotte playoff six years ago, while Maguire was in the midst of a brilliant college career at Duke. Park and Kim, both from South Korea, are ranked 2-3 in the world and Korda is fourth. That was set by Sei Young Kim, who finished tied with Inbee Park, 22-year-old Nelly Korda and Irish rookie Leona Maguire at 267. Ko came up three strokes shy of the LPGA record of 31 under. “It’s been a fun week in Hawaii and to be back in this position is obviously super cool.” I wondered if I’d ever be back in the winners circle, but obviously I’m grateful for all that’s happened in my career so far.
“If I said I didn’t doubt myself at all it would be a lie.
“When it doesn’t happen you do doubt,” Ko said. But she had only won once since – three years ago – until Saturday. Ko, who turns 24 next Saturday, won 14 times in her first 81 starts, including twice as an amateur in 2012 and ’13.