Haeran Ryu back in front, shares Chevron lead with Mao Saigo

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Haeran Ryu capped a front-nine run in the Chevron Championship with a chip-in birdie on the ninth hole, then held on in tricky wind conditions Saturday for a share of the third-round lead with Mao Saigo.

On a gusty, sunny day at The Club at Carlton Woods in the first women’s major tournament of the year, Ryu parred the final nine holes for a 4-under 68. Saigo followed with 69 to match Ryu at 9-under 207.

Ryu opened with a 65 on Thursday for share of the lead with Yan Liu, then shot a 74 to fall two strokes back. On Saturday, after a bogey on the third hole, she birdied No. 4 and ran off four straight on Nos. 6-9. The 24-year-old South Korean player has two LPGA Tour victories.

Saigo is winless on the LPGA Tour. The 23-year-old Japanese player was the tour’s rookie of the year last season. She parred the last five holes after chipping in for birdie on the par-5 13th to get to 9 under.

Lindy Duncan was a stroke back after a 70. Fellow American Sarah Schmelzel had a 71 to join Liu (72) at 7 under.

Liu, the Chinese player who took a one-shot edge into the weekend, dropped out of a three-way tie for the lead with a double bogey on the par-3 17th.

Playing into the wind on the 144-yard hole, she hit short into a bunker, then left her second in an awkward position in thick rough above the bunker. She chipped 20 feet past and two-putted.

Lexi Thompson topped the group at 6 under after a 70. The 30-year-old Florida player retired from full-time play at the end of last season. She won the 2014 event — then the Kraft Nabisco Championship — at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda was tied for 31st at even par in her title defense. She had consecutive double bogeys on her second nine in a 71. Winless this season, she won last year for the last of her record-tying five straight victories.

Source: espn.com