Koreans wrest control as Saso flounders in HSBC Women's World Championship

MANILA, Philippines — In Gee Chun flashed superb control of her hybrid shots as she came away with a bogey-free 66 to storm ahead of a stellar cast and lead a Korean assault the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore Saturday.

With Jeongeun Lee6 shooting a 65 and erstwhile co-leader Jin Young Ko dropping to joint second with a 69 to stalk Chun by just one stroke, a Sunday thriller shapes up among the aces from the talent-rich nation.

But a mix of international aces, excluding Japanese Yuka Saso, are ready to pounce in, just three strokes behind, including Danielle Kang of the US, who carded a second 68 in three days, Thai Atthaya Thitikul, who turned in a 70, and Amy Yang, also of Korea, shot a 71, while Canadian Brooke Henderson also put in a 71 to stay into the thick of things despite falling four strokes off Chun heading to an expected scorching high noon duel at Sentosa’s Tanjong course Sunday.

But Chun shone in a day of changing fortunes when the leaders changed hands a number of times before the two-time major winner took command up with a pair of 33s and lined herself for a fourth LPGA diadem with a 12-under 204.

Lee6, the 2019 US Women’s Open champion, produced the tournament-best 65 spiked by an eagle on No. 13 and four straight birdies from No. 4 as she caught up with Ko at second at 205 after the world No. 1 snapped a par-game at the front with three birdies in the first five holes at the back, her 69 extending her rounds in the 60s to 14 straight dating back to the 2021 BMW Championship back at home last October.

But Kang, seeking a second victory in four LPGA events in the season, bounced back from a second round 71 with a 69 to pool a 207 in a tie with Thitikul, winner here in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific crown 2018, who rebounded from a miscue on No. 4 with birdies on Nos. 8, 10 and 13, while Yang missed grabbing a share of second with a double bogey on No. 16.

But the four-time LPGA winner, who racked up all her victories in Southeast Asia, including three in Thailand, stayed in the hunt for another title run in the region.

Earlier, Saso, way behind at joint 43rd with 71-73 in the first two rounds, put herself out of play and contention with three bogeys in the first five holes at the back. Though she checked her skid with birdies on Nos. 18 and 1, the ICTSI-backed ace yielded the strokes on a double bogey mishap on No. 3.

Reeling near the tail-end of the select 65-player field, the reigning US Women’s Open champion birdied two of the last three to salvage a 35-38 for a share of 45th at 217.

That was 13 shots off Chun, who worked her way up from joint sixth with birdies on Nos. 1, 5 and 6 then sustained her charge to gain strokes on Nos. 10, 13 and 15 in a solid round she anchored on superb ball striking. She hit all but one fairway and missed just three greens while finishing with 27 putts.

Meanwhile, Thai Patty Tavatanakit, who took charge with a 67 Thursday but fell to tied 21st with a second round 74, came out of nowhere to grab a share of the lead at 9-under with a stirring six-under card after 13 holes. But the reigning ANA Inspiration champion played the last two par-3s at four-over before holing out on No. 18 with a bogey for the second straight day, sending her back to where she started – in the middle of the pack.

Her double bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17 and a last-hole mishap all but put to naught her brilliancy majority of the round, falling to a share of 22nd at 212, eight strokes off the leader.