They seem to be matching each other shot for shot at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer. Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park, Nos. 2 and 3 in the Rolex Rankings, respectively, have both recorded rounds of 66-65 on the Bay Course at Seaview, a Dolce Hotel. And both have secured 13 birdies, 21 pars and two bogeys to reach 11-under par overall and share the 36-hole advantage.
One differing factor between the two 6-under 65s on Saturday: Ko faced light breezes in the morning, while Park battled gusting winds throughout the afternoon.
“It was a little windier out there, but the weather was a bit warmer than yesterday morning. So, striking the ball a little bit better than yesterday,” said Park, who won the Kia Classic in March. “Bogey-free would've been nice, but one bogey on No. 8. Hit over the green with the downwind, just didn't get up and down.”
Ko is searching for a third victory in her last five starts. It’s the type of rhythm she expects after making changes to her team a season ago.
“I would say my game was perfect on the front nine and is [overall] pretty good, like better than earlier in the year,” said Ko, who is a combined 48-under in her last 16 rounds. “I changed my swing coach [last year], so swinging or putting, everything is getting better right now.”
While Ko will hunt for birdies as she chases a 10th career LPGA Tour title, Park will continue to rely on her flatstick. Since KPMG Performance Insights began tracking stats in June, the 21-time LPGA champion is converting 63% of her putts from 10-15 feet, which greatly outshines the LPGA Tour average of 29%.
“Jin Young is a really, really good player, too, so I think it'll be really fun out there tomorrow playing with her,” Park said. “Obviously, you need some birdies out here to win tomorrow. Knowing the No. 2 player in the world is hunting for the same thing I am hunting for, definitely need a good performance.
“I'm putting very good the last couple days. Holed some really, really good putts. I think that's what we need on this golf course, and I have been doing that. When I got speed right, I got the line right.”
Second-year rookie Patty Tavatanakit rounds out the final grouping. She fired a bogey-free 65 in the second round and is two shots back of the leaders. A Rolex First-Time Winner at the ANA Inspiration in April, Tavatanakit is once again sensing a concentration fit for a champion.
“I was really focused the last two rounds and haven't really felt that intensity on the course in a while,” said Tavatanakit. “I feel like it got me back into a good momentum going into last couple weeks of the season. I want to enjoy it more because a couple of times I have been in contention, I tried too hard to force things to happen and I didn't really enjoy it.”
Brittany Lincicome (67) and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68) share fourth at -8 overall. They’ll be joined by Su Oh (65) in the penultimate grouping, as the Australian sits in a tie for sixth with three others trailing the lead by four strokes. Defending champion Mel Reid (79) missed the cut, as well as local amateur and tournament sponsor exemption Megha Ganne (76). A total of 73 players made the cut of 1-under par.
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