Choi taking 1-shot lead into final round of Senior British Open

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — K.J. Choi birdied the last hole to regainthe sole lead of the Senior British Open after three rounds on Saturday.

The South Korean golfer takes a one-shot lead into the final round at Carnoustie.

Choi, up by two overnight, led the field by six after 14 holes. Then consecutive double bogeys pegged him back and, going into the 18th, he was tied with Richard Green, who carded a 4-under 68.

On a hole he bogeyed in the first two rounds, Choi birdied and closed with a 70.

Like Choi, Green has never won a senior major, but the Australian has finished top three in two senior majors this year.

India’s Arjun Atwal was third, two strokes behind Choi at 6 under after a 67.

Atwal was two shots clear of England’s Paul Broadhurst, the 2016 champion.

Wildfire’s smoke affecting CPKC field

Mao Saigo emerged from the wildfire-fed smoky haze Saturday at Earl Grey Golf Club with the lowest round in CPKC Women’s Open history. Five hours later, Haeran Ryu and Lauren Coughlin found themselves well clear of the rest of the field.

Taking advantage of calmer conditions after two windy days, Saigo shot an 11-under 61 to jump from a tie for 46th to a tie for third — five strokes behind Ryu and four back of Coughlin on the tree-lined course with thick rough and small greens.

“I’m very proud of myself because that was the best round probably since I started playing golf,” Saigo said through a translator. “The wind wasn’t blowing much, so I was trying to make birdies on par 5s and try to keep my strengths with my iron shots.”

The 22-year-old Japanese player — an LPGA Tour rookie after winning six times on the JLPGA — holed out from 133 yards for eagle with a pitching wedge on the par-4 10th.

“I was able to feel the energy from the fans and that helped me play well,” Saigo said.

She broke the tournament record of 62 set by Song Hee-Kim in 2009 at nearby Priddis Greens and matched by Mo Martin in 2018 at Wascana in Regina, Saskatchewan, and Paula Reto and Lindy Duncan in 2022 at Ottawa Hunt.

“I never set target score and I always try to hit the best shot each time,” Saigo said. “So, today I kept the same attitude, and that add up to today’s score.”

Ryu shot a 64 to get to 13-under 203, making a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-4 14th.

The 23-year-old South Korean player birdied the first four holes and five of the first six. She added a birdie on No. 10, bogeyed the par-4 12th and rebounded with a birdie on 13.

“She (Saigo) has a crazy day,” Ryu said. “But I started five holes and 5 under, so I’m crazy, too, I think. It’s funny today.”

Second last week in Ohio in the Dana Open, Ryu won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship last year for her first LPGA Tour title.