Haeran Ryu And Mao Saigo Share The 3rd-round Lead In The Chevron Championship

Haeran Ryu capped a front-nine run in the Chevron Championship with a chip-in birdie on the ninth hole, then held on in tricky wind conditions Saturday for a share of the third-round lead with Mao Saigo.

On a gusty, sunny day at The Club at Carlton Woods in the first women's major tournament of the year, Ryu parred the final nine holes for a 4-under 68. Saigo followed with 69 to match Ryu at 9-under 207.

"The back nine was so challenging for me because the wind started a little more stronger and the pin positions were so tough," Ryu said. "And my putter - almost in the hole but always go next to the hole and then make some easy pars. But, yeah, it was so hard today."

Ryu opened with a 65 on Thursday for share of the lead with Yan Liu, then shot a 74 to fall two strokes back. On Saturday, after a bogey on the third hole, she birdied No. 4 and ran off four straight on Nos. 6-9. The 24-year-old South Korean player has two LPGA Tour victories.

Saigo is winless on the LPGA Tour. The 23-year-old Japanese player was the tour's rookie of the year last season.