Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Jin Young Ko leads an LPGA event going into the final round. She’s once again right in the mix, this time leading the Cognizant Founders Cup by four shots over others who will look to go low on Sunday. Ko is just one week removed from failing to force a playoff at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, no doubt adding to her fire at Mountain Ridge Country Club this weekend.
She started her round with a dropped shot on four, but bounced right back with back-to-back birdies on five and six. She would make the turn with an even-par 35. Her back nine was flawless, carding two birdies and no bogeys for a day total 2-under 69.
In a tie for second is the U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso, who fired a 4-under 67 in Saturday’s third round. Saso hasn’t finished outside the top 40 since her major victory (seven starts), a stretch that includes three top 5s. She got this left-to-right breaker to go for her fourth birdie of the day.
Here comes the @uswomensopen champ
@SasoYuka_315 sneaks one in through the side door to move within two of the lead
Watch the @LPGAfounders on CNBC! pic.twitter.com/tIgJbSDNbP
— LPGA (@LPGA) October 9, 2021
World No. 1 Nelly Korda sits just outside the top five at 7 under, T-6. Back-to-back bogeys in the middle of her second nine stopped her from getting close before Sunday’s final round. But she is the best player in the world for a reason, don’t be surprised if she makes a run.
Lexi Thompson and Maria Fassi also sit 7 under, T-6.
A group of six sit T-11, seven shots back of Ko. Some of those names include Jessica Korda, Jeongeun Lee6, and Brooke Henderson.