Evian Championship: Lee leads as Ko steps up bid for golfing history

South Korea’s Lee Mi-Hyang continued to lead the Evian Championship heading into the final round as New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko made a significant third round move in her bid to make golfing history.

Lee, the halfway leader, dropped two shots in her opening two holes but recovered for a one-under 70 and 10-under 203 at the fifth and final major of the women’s season.

It left her one shot clear of Lexi Thompson, with Ko tied with another American Morgan Pressel for third, two shots back.

Ko is bidding to become at 18 years and four months the youngest winner of a major, the record held by Pressel, who was 18 years and ten months when she took the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

World number two Ko carded a fine 67, only marred by a bogey at the final hole in wet conditions.

With poor weather forecast for Sunday’s final round, organizers have split the field with starts at the first and 10th tees.

“I’m in a good position. I played solid this week,” Ko told the official tournament website.

“I think the conditions will be a crucial factor for the final outcome. It’s really difficult to say what score will be needed to win.”

Pressel, hoping to deny Ko the chance of breaking her record, would have been tied for the lead but for hitting into the water on the testing final hole and running up a double bogey for a round of 70.

But up front, it was a tenacious performance by 22-year-old Lee, who has a single win on the LPGA Tour and has never previously featured at the head of a major.

A fine par putt from 10 feet on the last kept her in front of Thompson, who charged through the field with a 66.

“I was really happy to make that putt at the last and I’m going to enjoy it tomorrow and, hopefully, not be too nervous,” she said.