Golf: Ko moves up on third day at British Open

Lydia Ko in action during the third round of the women's British Open. Photo / Getty Images

Lydia Ko may have left it too late to make her move at the Women's British Open.

After a frustrating second round of 76 yesterday, the Kiwi golfer carded a three-under 69 at Royal Birkdale in England today as she climbed up the leaderboard.

The 17-year-old is one-over for the week in a share of 17th and is five strokes back from leader Inbee Park who fired a three-under 69 on moving day courtesy of a string of early birdies.

"It was a great start because the opening four holes are the toughest on the course," Park told the tournament's official website.

"Today has given me a lot of confidence going in to tomorrow. My ball striking was very good out there today and my putting was a little better, although I still left a few out there."

Park, a four-time major winner, is one shot ahead of a trio of players who are at three-under, including world No 4 Suzann Pettersen.

World No 1 Stacy Lewis, who has been the form player on the LPGA Tour in 2014, is in a tie for seventh at one-under.

Ko's round took shape with four birdies and a bogey during a busy front nine. The world No 2, who is still yet to win a major, then made nine-straight pars to finish her round.

British teenager Charley Hull shot the round of the day with a six-under 66, which included nine birdies and three bogeys, as she jumped to a share of seventh at one-under.

"I felt a bit of pressure at the start of this week knowing that people were expecting a lot of me so I feel like I have stepped up there today and really proved myself," Hull told reporters.

"The plan is to do the same tomorrow. I'm just going to go out there and do my own thing."

Meanwhile, Kiwi golfers Danny Lee (rounds of 73 and 70) and Tim Wilkinson (74 and 68) both missed the cut yesterday at the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour in Illinois.

On the second-tier Web.com Tour, Hamilton's Steven Alker (70 and 74) missed the cut as he tried to defend his Utah Championship crown in Sandy.