South Africa’s Paula Reto might be 10 shots off the pace after the third round of the Lotte Championship on the LPGA Tour, but she has carded three rounds in the 60s after her third-round 69 took her to a share of 23rd in Hawaii.
She produced a round of five birdies and two bogeys on Friday as former world number one, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, raced to 21-under-par with a third-round of seven-under-par 65. Ko has a one-stroke edge over Nelly Korda of the United States, and is four ahead of third-placed Yuka Saso of the Philippines, who lead at halfway and who signed for a one-under 71 in the third round.
Reto made three birides on her opening nine, dropping a shot on the par-four eighth, and then two more birdies on her way home, with her second bogey coming at the par-five 17th. It was a more accurate round for Reto than her second was, as she hit 12 of 14 fairways, and 16 of 18 greens in regulation. Her putting was not as good this time round, as she made 31 putts in the third round, compared to 26 in the second.
Ko put herself in position for her first victory since 2018. She has played her last four rounds in 31 under, having fired a 62 last Sunday at the ANA Inspiration for her second runner-up finish of the year.
Ko’s earlier runner-up was in February at the Gainbridge LPGA, where she finished three shots behind Korda.
The 23-year-old former world number one has 16 LPGA victories and two majors but has slumped since her last win in 2018. However, her game began to rebound last summer when the LPGA returned from its pandemic pause. Ko had the 54-hole lead at the Marathon LPGA Classic in Ohio last July but shot a final-round 73 to finish a shot behind winner Danielle Kang.
