Golf: Ko on track for Anzac double

Lydia Ko. Photo / Richard Robinson.

Lydia Ko remains on track to become the first golfer to win the New Zealand and Australian strokeplay titles in the same year.

Ko, who began the day with a five shot lead over Cecilia Cho and lost the lead at one stage, responded to a couple of double bogeys to card an even par 74 at the Russley Golf Club yesterday.

The teenager, who turns 14 tomorrow, remains five in front of her good friend Cho into the final round as she eyes her first New Zealand Strokeplay title win.

"It would mean a lot to win the New Zealand strokeplay," said Ko.

"I have never played that well in this event, I remember I shot 79, 79 on my birthday at Remuera [2009] and didn't go well at Napier [2010] so it is nice to be in this position.

"Five shots is a big lead but this isn't a very long course and you can shoot some good scores pretty easily, so I need to keep playing well."

Ko, who made fine birdies on the 16th and 18th, was proud to come home strong after a disastrous double bogey on the 11th.

The New Zealand rep thinned her shot from the bunker and ended up on the path. Her nearest point of relief was in the garden which she opted for because she didn't want to damage her club.

Ko made a fine up and down from the bunker to make double bogey.

Sixteen-year-old Cho had an even par 74 and is looking forward to make a move in round four.

Their closest rivals are Philippines golfer Chihiro Ikeda (75) and Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park) who are 15 shots back from the lead and 10 back from Cho.

Both have won countless titles in New Zealand but neither has claimed the women's strokeplay title before.

The world No 2 Cho and No 3 Ko have enjoyed a number of top quality battles recently, including a playoff at the Australian strokeplay and the North Island strokeplay where Ko prevailed both times.

Cho will next week attempt to become the first woman to win the New Zealand Amateur title three times in a row since Kate Rattray from the Otago Golf Club. Rattray won the event in 1898 (Dunedin), 1899 (Hutt) and 1900 (Christchurch).

Wellington's Thomas Spearman-Burn was the big mover in the New Zealand men's strokeplay at Russley with a superb six-under 66 lifting him 14 places up the leaderboard and within two shots of leader Ryan Fox.

The 2008 New Zealand amateur champion will begin the final round in Christchurch today firmly in contention as the lead group in round three of Fox (73), Shaun Jones (76) and Thomas Brockelsby (74) were underwhelming in warm and fine conditions.

"You never know how the other guys are going so you just try and go low to catch up," said 21-year-old Spearman-Burn, whose twin brother Peter recently turned professional.

"The key to my round was my putting. I holed a few bombs, and it's a good day out there and its perfect scoring conditions."

Spearman-Burn made seven birdies in all (on holes 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 13) and one bogey on the 16th and is confident of upsetting Fox.

"I haven't played that well for a while but I am hitting it good this week and I think I can win, why not?"

It was a dramatic turnaround for the Miramar golfer who began round three on two over (74, 72). He will be a danger in the New Zealand Amateur as a noted matchplay golfer.

Meanwhile, Fox was happy to lead by two shots but disappointed with his one over par 73 that he put down to a cold putter.

"I couldn't hole anything, it was a really tough day," said the 23-year-old, who hit 14 greens in regulation.

- AGENCIES