Woburn (United Kingdom) (AFP)
20-year-old Japanese Hinako Shibonu has delighted South African Ashleigh Buhai to lead the British Open, the last-ever Grand Slam of women's golf of the year, by returning a card of 67 for a total of 202 ( 14 under par) on Saturday, thus pushing the former leader to two strokes.
Buhai, 30, was alone in the lead since Thursday, but a card of 72 on Saturday slid her to second place, under the direct threat of South Korean Park Sung-hyun, N.2 World, 3rd at once.
A trio made up of South Korea's Ko Jin-young, a new World No. 1 after her success at the Evian Championship last Sunday, and Americans Morgan Pressel and Lizette Salas, is in fourth place.
The Frenchwoman Céline Boutier, 4th Friday, dropped to 12th place because of a 3rd card above the par (72), and is found with seven shots of Shibonu (209).
Classification after the 3rd round (par 72):
1. Hinako Shibonu (JPN) 202 (66-69-67)
2. Asheigh Buhai (RSA) 204 (65-67-72)
3. Park Sung-hyun (KOR) 205 (67-70-68)
4. Morgan Pressel (USA) 206 (69-71-66)
. Ko Jin-young (KOR) 206 (68-70-68)
. Lizette Salas (USA) 206 (69-67-70)
7. Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 207 (69-69-69)
. Charley Hull (GBR) 207 (67-70-70)
. Bronte Law (GBR) 207 (70-67-70)
10. Yan Jing (CHN) 208 (71-70-67)
. Lee Jeong-eun (KOR) 208 (68-71-69)
12. Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 209 (71-70-68)
. Caroline Masson (GER) 209 (69-68-72)
. Celine Boutier (FRA) 209 (71-66-72)
15. Sakura Yakomine (JPN) 210 (70-73-67)
. Pavarisa Yoktuan (THA) 210 (73-67-70)
. Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 210 (68-70-72)
18. Kristen Gillman (USA) 211 (71-74-66)
. Brittany Altomare (USA) 211 (73-71-67)
. Kim Sei-young (KOR) 211 (70-73-68)
. Atthaya Thitikul (THA, ama.) 211 (73-68-70)
. Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 211 (67-74-70)
. Lee Jeongeun (KOR) 211 (70-71-70)
. Minjee Lee (AUS) 211 (71-68-72)
. Marina Alex (USA) 211 (69-70-72)
. Nelly Korda (USA) 211 (70-69-72)
© 2019 AFP