Lydia Ko has stormed into a four-shot lead after a firing a course record in the third round of the Ladies European Tour event in Saudi Arabia.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand plays a tee shot on the 14th hole during the final round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship Kapolei, Hawaii. Photo: AFP
Meanwhile, fellow New Zealander Steven Alker is well-placed at the halfway mark of the PGA Champions Tour event in Florida, one shot off the lead.
Ranked No.7 in the world, Ko bounced back from an early bogey to sink 10 birdies in her nine-under par 63 at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.
She moved to 16-under par for the tournament, taking a four shot lead into the final round.
Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul is outright second at 12-under, with second round leader Alice Hewson of England a further two shots back.
Despite twice making three consecutives birdies during her brilliant round, Ko simply described her round as "solid".
"I missed a short putt for par on three, and then I got really angry and went on a stretch of birdies," the two-time major winner and two-time Olympic medallist said.
"I gave myself a lot of good looks for birdie opportunities and was rolling it well, so it was a great combination of everything, and I didn't make a lot of mistakes. It was a sort of round where I kept putting myself into position and play the best golf I can."
The 24-year-old said she wouldn't be changing her approach as she tried to wrap up her 22nd professional win in the final round.
"I've just got to keep playing aggressively, this is a course where players are playing well, so I'm just trying to make my share out there and see what happens."
In Boca Raton, Alker backed up his opening 68 with a nine-under 63 for the second round.
He fired seven birdies and an eagle to close to within one stroke of joint leaders Tim Petrovic and Jim Furyk at the halfway mark.