Yuka Saso fired a 4-under-par 67 to seize a share of second spot with three others after three rounds of the Cognizant Founders Cup in West Caldwell, New Jersey Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
The reigning US Open champion birdied the fifth, sixth and eighth, followed it up with back-to-back birdies on 14th and 15th before stumbling with a lone bogey on the par-4 17th.
She had earlier rounds of 67 and 70 for a 204 three-round aggregate along with Americans Elizabeth Szokol and Lindsey Weaver, and Korean So Yeon Ryu. Szokol fired a 65 highlighted by seven birdies against a bogey five on the 17th, while Weaver and So shot 69 and 71.
Saso’s feat put her four strokes behind Korean leader Jin Young Ko, who carded a third-round 69 for a 200 total after earlier rounds of 63 and 68. Ko took bogeys on par-5 fourth and ninth against birdies on fifth, sixth, 11th and 15th.
Meanwhile, Dottie Ardina posted an even-par 71 for joint 41st to trail 12 strokes behind Ko. She had earlier rounds of 71 and 70.