Park leads for 3rd straight day at Rio 2016, Ko back in contention

Inbee Park holds the lead for the third straight round, but world No. 1 Lydia Ko sits right behind after a sizzling performance Friday at Rio 2016.

The South Korean bogeyed the 18th hole, but still managed a 1-under 70 to hold a two-stroke lead over Ko and American Gerina Piller heading into Saturday's final round. Her back nine was an adventure, as the 28-year-old had three birdies and three bogeys on her way around the second side.

A raging wind throughout the day made the Olympic course extremely challenging, although Ko navigated the difficult conditions with ease, firing a 6-under 65.

The 19-year-old scorched the front nine, using a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth to help her post a 6-under 29. She would par all nine holes on the back nine in the difficult conditions to post the low round of the day and vault back into contention. Joining her at 9-under is Piller, who also performed well in the trying weather with a 3-under 68.

Shanshan Feng of China sits alone in fourth after a solid 68 of her own.

Leaderboard

Notables

Stacy Lewis of the U.S. entered play Friday just one stroke behind Park but turned in a 76 in the blustery conditions. She sits seven shots off the pace and will need a score similar to her second-round 63 to reach the medal podium.

Canada's Brooke Henderson was another player unable to replicate a great round from Thursday in the wind. The world's third-ranked player, who birdied five of her final six holes in round two, shot 4-over on the same stretch just a day later, finishing with a 75. She sits alongside Lewis at 4-under par.

Great Britain's Charley Hull also went the wrong way on Friday, finishing with a 3-over 74, and dropping to 5-under for the tournament.

Tweet of the Day

Despite limited action this season due to a thumb injury, Park's spot atop the leaderboard represents a daunting task for the field entering round four.