Photo credit: @nzgolf

By Jeremy Harness

DALY CITY, Calif. — Three years after she last won on this course, Lydia Ko is again in the top spot in the LPGA Tour’s return to the Bay Area.

After falling out of the lead in the second round after being tied for it after Thursday’s action, Ko shot a five-under round of 67 to vault herself into a one-shot advantage on Saturday.

To do it, she powered through the front nine by going three-under before having to settle for a bogey at the par-four 10th hole – she also bogeyed the 10th on Thursday. She bounced right back at the very next hole and made birdie, also as was the case in the opening round.

She then parred the next three holes before recording back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th holes to get to 11-under for the tournament.

“I’m happy with the way I played,” Ko said. “I know there’s still a lot of golf to be played, so I’ve just got to stay positive and confident out there and just continue playing my game and not worry about what everyone else is doing.” One stroke behind her is Friday’s leader, Jessica Korda, who had a tougher start to her third round than was the case in the previous two. She birdied the first hole but bogeyed two of the next three before getting some ground back with a birdie at the seventh.

Korda was also victimized by the 10th hole, as she came away with a bogey but rallied with birdies at the 13th and the 15th to turn in a one-under card of 71.

“Today was definitely tough, the wind was picking up in the afternoon,” Korda said. “I’m not sure what golf course Lydia was playing, but she played great. I’m excited for tomorrow.” “Today I was trying to be a little bit aggressive, and it got in my way a little bit.”

The two will be paired together for Sunday’s final round, but only three strokes behind is Minjee Lee, who fired a four-under 68 on Saturday. She exchanged a bogey for a birdie on the front side, but she went on a tear on the back nine.

She made five birdies against only one bogey for the final nine holes to give herself a realistic chance to win as well.

“I don’t know what the conditions will be like tomorrow, but I’m sure either way it’s going to be an exciting finish,” Lee said. “I think I’m in a great position.

“I go into every week thinking I’m going to post a great score. If I keep putting myself in contention and in position, then the win will come eventually.”