LPGA Tour: Lydia Ko opens up five-shot halfway lead at CME Group Tour Championship in Florida | Golf News

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and Nelly Korda are six strokes back and part of the group is third; Lydia Ko chases third win of LPGA Tour season; Watch the third round on Saturday from 7pm on Sky Sports Golf and – for free – on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel

Lydia Ko shot a bogey-free 66 to open a five-shot lead in the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida.

Ko, who has already won two times on the LPGA Tour this season, birdied four of the six holes in the round and took advantage to close both parties in the second major at Tiburon Golf Club.

The 25-year-old’s six-under saw her register her lowest round of the day and move to 13 under for the tournament, giving her the chance to beat her biggest rival Hyo Joo Kim at the weekend.

Lydia Ko is seeking her 19th LPGA Tour win and third of the season

“I think I was patient out there today,” Ko said. “My goal this week is not to miss one hole or one shot. This is the last tournament of the season and it’s my ninth year on tour, so I want to finish the season well and I just want to finish without any regrets.”

A victory for Ko would see her collect $2million, one of the biggest prizes in women’s golf, while the New Zealander is also close to winning the Vare Trophy on average for the second year in a row.

Lydia Ko played alongside Pajaree Anannarukarn (left), who finished tenth with a second round 73.

Kim bogeyed her last three holes to post a three-under 69 and move into second place alone, while world No 1 Nelly Korda and Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh are among the four players who share third place at seven.

Dryburgh held a share of the lead after three consecutive birdies from the sixth, only to bogey two of the next four holes en route to a second-round 70, Korda also six behind Anna Nordqvist and Nasa Hataoka.

“Very tough again,” Dryburgh said. “I didn’t hit well today, I would say, but I still putted well. I left a few out there.”

Ireland’s Leona Maguire is tied for seventh with Jeongeun Lee6 and Amy Yang, while England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff carded a second-round 67 to join the group at 10th at five under.

Watch the LPGA Tour CME Group Tour Championship this weekend on Sky Sports. The latest coverage continues on Saturdays from 7pm on Sky Sports Golf and – for free – on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel.