Two-time champion Jiyai Shin took advantage of a back-nine struggle by top-ranked Nelly Korda to grab a one-shot lead after the third round of the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Shin gained a lot of confidence heading into the final round by making her last of seven birdies in a 5-under 67 at the famous golf course.
On the par-4 17th hole, known as the Road Hole, Shin used a fairway wood that landed at the front of the green and rolled to within two feet of the pin.
This put Shin at 7-under par in the final major of the year, and she will start on Sunday aiming to add to her British Open wins from 2008 and 2012.
Korda, who is also aiming for her third major title and her first at the British Open, will start two strokes behind the leader after a disappointing 75.
She began with a three-shot lead but missed short putts for bogeys at her first two holes, dropping into a tie for the lead. She regained the lead with three birdies before the turn.
Korda struggled on the back nine, missing a 4-foot par putt at No. 12, another from 5 feet at No. 13, and then made a double bogey on No. 16 after hitting her drive out of bounds.
She also had a bogey at the 17th hole, which she had birdied on the previous days, but finished with a birdie on the last hole, leaving her in third place.
“It’s nice to finish with a birdie,” Korda said, “but it wasn’t the best of days.”
Defending champion Lilia Vu, who played with Korda in the final pairing, made a birdie putt on No. 18 to shoot 71 and hold second place.
Olympic champion Lydia Ko (71) and Jenny Shin (70) were tied for fourth.
