High-flying golfers Lydia Ko and Steve Alker chase second wins in a row


Sam Greenwood/Getty ImagesLydia Ko plays a shot on the sixth hole during the third round of the Pelican Women’s Championship.In-form New Zealand golfers Lydia Ko and Steve Alker have given themselves a shot at winning back-to-back golf tournaments. Ko, who last weekend won the Saudi Ladies International, is three shots off the lead at the Pelican Women’s Championship LPGA event in Florida, after making six birdies during an error-free third round to card a six-under 64 on Sunday (NZT). Alker, who last week won the TimberTech Championship, is just two shots off the pace at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship PGA Tour Champions event in Arizona, after mixing three birdies with one bogey during his third round to card a three-under 68. Ko sits in a share of sixth place while Alker is in a tie for third. READ MORE:* Lydia Ko in the mix heading into third round of Pelican Women’s Championship* On-song Lydia Ko switches focus to prestigious LPGA Tour trophy* Lydia Ko shoots final-round 65 to win lucrative Saudi Ladies International Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson co-lead the Pelican Women’s Championship at 16-under heading into the final round, while Jim Furyk made an eagle and five birdies to surge into the lead at the TimberTech Championship. He is also at 16-under for the tournament. “I feel like it’s been a really consistent year,” Ko said. “I started off the season really well with a few top 10s, and then winning in Hawaii just kind of gave me the confidence that, hey, I can be back in the winner’s circle. “It’s good to be back there again last week even though it was on the LET [Ladies European Tour]. It just gives you confidence. “You always want to start the season well because it kind of sets your mood for the rest of the season, then you want to end it well. “That’s kind of the best-case scenario. So I’m hoping that I can finish the season off strongly.”


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