Chinese Taipei's Teresa Lu shot a three-under par third round to claim a share of the tournament lead ©Getty Images

South Korea’s Jin Young Ko and Chinese Taipei’s Teresa Lu share the lead of the Women’s British Open ahead of the final day’s play at Turnberry in Scotland.

Ko had defied expectations having produced rounds of 68 and 71 on the opening two days in her first appearance at a major championship to lie three shots off Norway’s Suzann Pettersen at the halfway stage.

The 20-year-old showed no signs of nerves throughout her third round as she recorded four birdies and one bogey to enter the clubhouse on eight-under par for the tournament, considerably boosting her chances of winning a major at the first attempt.

“I really enjoyed today and I never really thought I was leading this tournament,” Ko said.

“It’s really kind of a bonus.

“But this is a big tournament, and leading right now - my caddie, Jeff, every shot, he told me just enjoy it and that really helped.”

Jin-Young Ko remains on course to win a major at her first attempt
Jin-Young Ko remains on course to win a major at her first attempt ©Getty Images

Wind and rain provided the golfers with more tough conditions than yesterday but it did not seem to affect Teresa Lu, as she carded an identical round to Ko to share the tournament lead, her round containing five birdies and two bogeys.

Lu also finds herself in an unfamiliar position having only ever finished in the top 10 of a major championship on one occasion.

The inexperience of the two frontrunners could play into the hands of Pettersen, sitting just a shot off the lead, having produced a level par round of 72.

Last year’s runner-up is a shot ahead of Japan’s Mika Miyazato and two clear of world number one Inbee Park of South Korea, Minjee Lee of Australia and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko.

The best placed British golfer heading into the final day’s play in Melissa Reid, whose eagle and birdie on the final two holes of the day moved her onto four-under par, giving her an outside chance of claiming the title.



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