Golf: Lydia Ko loses lead but still in hunt to break win drought

Lydia Ko of New Zealand watches her shot on the fifth hole of the third round of the Gainbridge LPGA. Photo / AP

Lydia Ko is still in the hunt to claim her first LPGA title since 2018 but she's got some ground to make up in the final round after an up-and-down day at the Gainbridge LPGA tournament in Orlando.

The 23-year-old Kiwi led after the first two rounds but slipped back to a share of third, three shots from leader Nelly Korda following an even-par 72.

Ko started well with birdies at the second and third holes before dropping a shot at the par-three sixth. She moved to 12-under with another birdie at the 11th before a double-bogey six on the 12th saw her give up the lead. After a fourth birdie for the day at 14, Ko recorded another bogey on the last hole to sit at 10-under.

Korda leads at 13-under following a four-under 68, with Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit a shot back from the American after firing a six-under 66.

Ko was left ruing the double bogey on the back nine, as well as an off day with the putter and a slightly less accurate round with her approach shots.

"I felt like it could have been a little bit better. I had pretty much one bad hole, but other than that I felt like I played pretty solid.

"I don't think I hit it as close and I holed a few of the mid-range putts over the last couple days, and I think I holed maybe one [yesterday]. So I didn't really have a lot of momentum going.

"Sometimes you're going to get days like that so you just have to play and be patient out there. I think for the most parts I was able to do that pretty well.

"I wish more putts could have dropped, but it's pretty tough out there, so hopefully just be able to keep playing solid and give myself good opportunities.

Ko isn't targeting a specific score to hunt down Korda as she continues her search for a drought-breaking victory.

"I've just got to focus on the shots in front of me and stay positive and patient - that's all I can do."