Rolex Rankings No. 2 Lydia Ko (-14)

Rolex Rankings No. 21 Ha Na Jang (-13)

Rolex Rankings No. 17 Na Yeon Choi (-12)

Rolex Rankings No. 3 Stacy Lewis (-10)

Rolex Rankings No. 23 Amy Yang (-9)

Lydia Ko, 17, could become the youngest in men’s or women’s golf history to ascend to the world No. 1 ranking with a win in the fi nal round of the Coates Golf Championship Presented by R&L Carriers Saturday. She took a one-shot lead after the third round Friday courtesy of a 7-under-par 65 that included a stretch of fi ve consecutive birdies from holes 12 through 16.

“I really haven’t thought about it,” Ko said. “Like I always say, the rankings come after the results in each tournament, so it would be great and it would be a huge honor to be in that position, but we’ve still got another long 18 holes to go and you just never know what’s going to happen in those holes.”

Ko admitted she was upset at herself after three-putting on Nos. 10 and 11 but settled herself to get in in 3-under 33. At 14-under-par for the tournament, Ko leads Ha Na Jang by one shot and Na Yeon Choi by two shots. Stacy Lewis sits four shots back in fourth at 10-under-par for the tournament after a third round 70 but thinks she’s still got a shot come Saturday.

“You look at we’ve shot some 6-, 7-unders, so you can get it going on this course,” Lewis said. “Just got to clean the round up a little bit, just hit the ball a little bit better and give myself some more opportunities.”

After a disappointing 1-under 71 for Jang Friday, Jang’s irons weren’t up to par in the third round but said she’s got her eyes on where she thinks she needs to be come Sunday on 18 when the last putt drops.

“I think the winner’s score is maybe 16-under, so maybe three more birdies. But it maybe 17, 18-under tomorrow,” Jang said. “Five more birdies? I can do it!”

Player	R1	R2	R3	To Par
Lydia Ko	68	69	65	-14
Ha Na Jang	67	65	71	-13
Na Yeon Choi	68	70	66	-12
Stacy Lewis	66	70	70	-10

NO. 1 SCENARIOS

Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park and Lydia Ko could all reasonably end the week with the No. 1 ranking.

Lydia Ko will take No. 1 with a win regardless of what else happens. Lydia, with a win, would become the youngest

No. 1 in men’s or women’s golf history. If Lydia fi nishes in solo 2nd, she will take No. 1 regardless of what Stacy Lewis does as long as Inbee Park fi nishes in a three-way tie for third or worse.

Stacy Lewis will take No. 1 ONLY if Inbee Park fi nishes 8th-or-worse AND Lydia fi nishes in a three-way tie for second-orworse.

Inbee can lock up No. 1 with a solo third fi nish-or-better as long as Ko doesn’t win.

ONE VOICE IN THE CROWD STANDS OUT FOR KO

With the crowds out in force this week at the Coates Golf Championship Presented by R&L Carriers it may be hard for one voice to rise above the rest, but this isn’t the case for Lydia Ko who can always hear her dad.

“I can always spot it,” Ko admitted. “It’s a voice I always hear. And he actually has quite a loud voice just even talking, so he’s always verbal out there. But in a way it’s good, it kind of gives me a little bit of oomph and it’s good to have the support.”

Ko has had success with her dad on site as she picked up wins at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic and CME Group Tour Championship.

A win this week would also guarantee Ko the title of No. 1 in the world.

What would her dad think of the accomplishment?

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to be more excited that I won than I came in first in the world rankings.”

BIG DAY OF DOUBLE DUTY FOR AMY YANG

Amy Yang entered the day 10 shots back of the lead – well outside of the conversation of who could win this – but she’ll certainly be in that discussion come Saturday after tying the round of the tournament with a 7-under-par 65 to get to 9-under-par for the tournament. She’ll be fi ve shots back entering the fi nal round Saturday.

Yang was actually 10-under in total on Friday after playing the four holes she had to fi nish in the morning 3-under-par over that four-hole stretch.

“I mean, I started pretty good from the early four holes from yesterday’s round,” Yang said. “Three birdies in four holes.”

As for what needs to happen to complete an impressive comeback tomorrow? More of the same.

“My shots were good. I’ve been working on it, and I think it’s improving. I had good speed, very good speed on the greens, and I think I just need to keep doing what I’m doing,” Yang said.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

-11 - Amy Yang shot 11-under on Friday. Yang fi nished her delayed second round in 3-under before shooting 8-under

2.635 - The course played 2.635 strokes easier in round 3 (71.467) than in the opening round (74.102)

5 - Following bogeys on 10 and 11, Lydia Ko birdied fi ve-straight holes (12-16) to get to 14-under

7 - The par-5 seventh has played as the easiest hole on the course at 4.753, Lydia Ko has played the hole in 2-under for the week

13 - The par-4 13th has played as the hardest hole on the course this week at 4.436, Lydia Ko has played the hole in 1-under for the week

31 - After averaging 26.5 putts through her first two rounds, Ha Na Jang needed 31 putts in round three

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The crowd’s been pretty awesome the last couple of days, just from the tee, from tee to green everybody’s there. Everybody’s super excited and I think it’s been great, and I’m pretty sure tomorrow’s going to be even more.”

-Lydia Ko on the fans at the Coates Golf Championship Presented by R&L Carriers

2015 Coates Golf Championship Round 3 Notes and Interviews

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