Daily Times

SINGAPORE: Ayaka Furue of Japan took a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the LPGA Tour’s HSBC Women´s World Championship with a 4-under 68 on Saturday. The 23-year-old Furue, who won the Women’s Scottish Open in her first year on tour in 2022, had a 54-hole total of 10-under 206. The late groups had to contend with rain and windy conditions at Sentosa Golf Club. Hannah Green was in second place after a 67. Second-round leader Celine Boutier (72) and Andrea Lee (67) were tied for third, three strokes behind Furue. Two-time defending champion Jin Young Ko moved well up the leaderboard with a round-of-the-day 66 and was four strokes behind and tied for fifth in the 66-player, no-cut tournament. Patty Tavatanakit, who won last week´s LPGA event in Thailand, shot 73 and was at 2-under, eight strokes behind. Lydia Ko, who has 20 career wins, including two majors, shot 71 and was at 1-over. Ko was level with Minjee Lee (72), who is playing for the first time this year on the LPGA Tour.