Choi, Kang share lead at Women’s PGA Championship

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Chicago: South Korea’s Chella Choi and American Danielle Kang, each seeking her first major title, both birdied the 18th hole to share the lead after Saturday’s third round of the Women’s PGA Championship.

Choi fired a three-under par 67 while Kang shot 68 to leave both on 10-under 203 after 54 holes here in the second major tournament of the LPGA season.“I feel very good right now,” Choi said. “My shot and my putting, very good the last couple of weeks, so I have confidence.

“It’s a major tournament. It’s the very biggest for me, but I’m ready for the final round. I practiced a lot and (I’ve been) training a lot, and mental training too.”Choi, a 26-year-old from Daegu, won her only LPGA crown at the 2015 Marathon Classic. Her best finish in any major was a share of fifth at this event in 2013.

Kang managed her best major finish with a share of 14th at the 2012 US Women’s Open.South Korea’s Shin Ji-Yai was third on 205 after a sizzling 64 with defending champion Brooke Henderson of Canada fourth on 206 and South Koreans Amy Yang and Kim Sei-Young sharing fifth on 207.

Choi opened and closed her bogey-free round with birdies on par-5 holes, adding birdied at the par-4 eighth and 14th holes.Kang, who shared the lead with Kim when the day began, birdied all three par-5 holes — the first, last and sixth — while matching Choi’s birdies on eight and 14 as well. But she stumbled with bogeys at the par-4 third and par-4 16th.

Shin left the LPGA in 2014 after 11 wins that included two majors, but she hasn’t had a top-10 major showing since 2013. She made six birdies in her last 10 holes to put herself in contention for another.“I think tomorrow is going to be a little bit hotter and also windy, so I try to enjoy the wind, like a friend,” Shin.