Su-Yeon Jang takes 3-stroke lead into final round in Hawaii

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World Number One Lydia Ko showed a welcome return to form with a sizzling final round at the LPGA's Lotte Championship in Hawaii to finish second behind American Cristie Kerr.

Kerr, 39, broke the tournament record at 20-under 268, a day after shooting 62 to match the event mark.

Kerr ended a 30-event victory drought, since the 2015 season finale.

Birdies came late for Ariya on the front nine and she birdied the last three holes on her way back to the clubhouse. "Yesterday I hit the ball pretty well but just didn't make as many putts".

Americans Beth Allen and Lizette Sales, South Koreans Jang Su-Yeon and Ji Eun-Hee, and Canadian Alena Sharp are all tied for second at five-under-par.

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Jang was also nine-under when darkness fell, but her birdie Friday at the par-three eighth, the penultimate hole of her round, gave her sole possession of the lead.

Ariya Jutanugarn and Stacy Lewis tied for seventh at 14 under. She then she shot a 7-under 65 in the third round later in the day despite the rain interruption to enter the final round at 17-under 199.

Ko has shot a superb eight-under 64 to sit in second place near the conclusion of the tournament. Her lead widened slightly in the Race to the CME Globe after notching another fine result. He was one of nine players on 2-under and just a shot behind.

Su-Yeon, who was invited to the tournament by the sponsors, said: "Because I had to finish up the second round this morning and play another 18 I was a little bit exhausted". I was just playing my game. "Very few players are lucky enough like I am to have a career as long as I've had and be competitive as long as I've been competitive".

The West Australian couldn't reproduce the fireworks of past year when she closed with a 63 to win and, after starting the final round 10 shots back, could only manage a 2-under 70. She has played all six Lottes, with her best finish in her first, when she tied for 25th. "I think that experience will help me play in the rest of the round tomorrow".

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