ON THE LINKS Saturday’s pro golf results

PGA

Koepka improves chances for No 1, leads CJ Cup by 4

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea

Brooks Koepka has improved his chances of taking over as the No. 1 golfer in the world, shooting a 5-under 67 Saturday to take a four-stroke lead after three rounds of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges.

Koepka had a three-round total of 13-under 203. Ian Poulter, who shot 68 Saturday, was tied for second place with second-round leader Scott Piercy, who had a 72.

Koepka, who trailed by one stroke after two rounds, will move to the top of the world rankings if he wins the tournament and former No. 1 Justin Thomas does not finish any better than second.

Thomas shot a 71 Saturday and is at 1-under, 11 strokes behind Koepka and tied for 43rd.

LPGA

Ciganda fires 67 to share top spot at Shanghai

SHANGHAI

Carlota Ciganda of Spain fired a 5-under 67 Saturday to share the lead with Sei Young Kim after the third round of the LPGA Shanghai.

Ciganda carded her fifth birdie of the day on the par-4 18th to finish tied with overnight leader Kim at 11-under 205. Kim shot a 71 with four bogeys and five birdies.

Angel Yin also birdied the final hole for a 68 and was a further stroke back with Brittany Altomare (69), Danielle Kang (71) and Ariya Jutanugarn (71).

Local favorite Yu Liu was in sole possession of seventh place with a 69.

Champions

Hass shoots 7-under 65 to open Tour playoff

RICHMOND, Va.

Jay Haas shot a 7-under 65 — missing his age by a stroke — to take a two-shot lead Saturday in the PGA Tour Champions’ playoff-opening Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

Trying to become the oldest winner in tour history, the 64-year-old Haas birdied the par-5 16th and 18th holes to get to 11-under 133 on The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course.

Stephen Ames and Scott Dunlap were tied for second. Ames had a 67, and Dunlap shot 68.

Defending champion Bernhard Langer had a 66 to join Billy Mayfair (67) and Woody Austin (68) at 9 under.

The top 72 players qualified for the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs opener. The top 54 today will get spots in next week’s Invesco QQQ Championship in Thousand Oaks, California.

Associated Press