3 minute read

Korean teenaged golfer Ayean Cho holds the lead after the third round of the women's Vic Open.

South Korean teenager Ayean Cho is the unlikely leader with one round to play after howling winds had played havoc with the field on day three of the women's Vic Open at 13th Beach.

The little-known Cho was one of only five of the 67 women who made the halfway cut to break par on Saturday on a day of scoring carnage.

The 19-year-old birdied the final hole on Saturday to sign for a two-under-par 70.

It left the 2019 KLPGA rookie of the year at 12-under 205, one shot clear of Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom (74), with Canada's Alena Sharp (70) a stroke further back at 10 under.

It was very windy so my shots were not as good as yesterday," said Cho through an interpreter.

"But I putted well.

"This will be the first time I will lead into the final round of an LPGA tournament.

"I'll try to keep my score as low as possible and try my best."

With one round to play, two-time Vic Open champion Minjee Lee was the only Australian in the top 10 of the $1.5 million tournament which is co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour.

Like Cho, she rolled in a birdie putt on the 18th, salvaging something from a difficult day.

Lee went to 12 under after three-successive birdies early in her round, before leaking shots as the wind continued to get stronger.

Lee has been overshadowed by her younger brother Min Woo, who leads the men's tournament by three strokes.

Hannah Green - who last year became only the third Australian woman to win a major when she saluted at the PGA Championship - moved into a tie for 16th at four under with a 71.

The highest-ranked player in the field, world No.8 Jeong Eun Lee6 from South Korea, missed the third-round cut after slipping to one under.