ON THE LINKS Saturday’s pro golf results
CIMB CLASSIC
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
Defending champion Justin Thomas endured a terrible start to the third round of the CIMB Classic after the American faltered with three bogeys and a double bogey to finish with a 1-under 71. Thomas was swiftly overtaken by Anirban Lahiri, who shone at the TPC Kuala Lumpur with nine birdies for a 65 to open up a four-shot lead going into the final round. Thomas had two bogeys and a double bogey in the first three holes of the back nine.
“Yeah, it was really just terrible golf for the first 13 holes. To be 4-over par out here, it was a very weird feeling. I don’t know,” he said. At least the 23-year-old Thomas ended the penultimate round with five consecutive birdies. “It was great to have that finish,” Thomas said. “I feel like that showed a lot of me and I hope that I can ride the momentum into tomorrow.” Lahiri’s low score positioned him at 19 under, a mark which could have been better if not for a double bogey on the 12th hole in an otherwise flawless scorecard. “I just told myself that I got rid of my double-bogey early in the round today and just tried to focus on what I needed to do,” said Lahiri, who was runner-up at the Asian Tour’s Macau Open last week. “You know, like I said, I feel like I’m hitting it good with my irons, my wedges and I’m putting it good.” Scotland’s Russell Knox played another solid round for a 68, to move tied for second with Thomas. Trailing a shot behind them are Derek Fathauer, James Hahn and Hideki Matsuyama, who are tied at 14-under.
BLUE BAY LPGA
HAINAN, CHINA
Jessica Korda caught Minjee Lee on Saturday in the Blue Bay LPGA. Ariya Jutanugarn made up even more ground to move into contention for her sixth victory of the season. Korda shot a 6-under 66 at Jian Lake to make up seven strokes on Lee for a share of the lead, and Jutanugarn had a 65 to cut her deficit from 10 to two shots and get in the final group Sunday. In hot and mostly calm conditions four days after Typhoon Sarika hit the South China Sea beach resort, Korda had five birdies in a six-hole stretch and got up-and-down for another on the par-5 18th. “I missed a lot of birdie opportunities at the beginning and I was just saying in my head, ‘Stay patient.’ and, ‘Stay positive,’ ” the 23-year-old American said. “Yesterday, I was 4 over through seven and then battled back to shoot even par. I was really proud of myself to keep myself in it. I just knew that I can make birdies out here.” Lee had a 73, also getting up-and-down for birdie on 18 to match Korda at 11-under 205. The 20-year-old Australian began the day six strokes ahead of Germany’s Caroline Masson after shooting 65-67 the first two rounds. “It wasn’t that windy today, so I guess you could be a bit more aggressive at the pins,” Lee said. “I wasn’t striking it that well, so I think I just got by making up-and-down.”
PORTUGAL MASTERS
VILAMOURA, PORTUGAL
Denmark’s Anders Hansen shot a 9-under 62 for a share of the Portugal Masters lead with Finland’s Mikko Korhonen. The 46-year-old Hansen had an 18-under 195 total at Oceanico Victoria. He’s playing a part-time schedule this season. Korhonen had a 64. Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was a stroke back after a 67.
Associated Press