It could have been even better but Lydia Ko remains a chance to claim victory in her comeback tournament on the LPGA Tour.
After more than a month on the sidelines resting her ailing left wrist, Ko has shown few signs of rust at the Sime Darby in Malaysia andsits four shots off the lead heading into today's final round.
The world No 3 last night completed a one-under 70 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, slipping to a share of fourth on the leaderboard and falling off the pace set by Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand (-14).
Ko could have been closer to the lead were it not for a wayward par-five 12th. Sitting on 11-under for the tournament and closing in on the top of the leaderboard after a pair of birdies on the front nine, she miscued a fairway wood on her second stroke.
The shot sailed wide to the left and found thick shrubbery to give Ko an unplayable lie, causing her to take a drop that eventually resulted in a double-bogey.
She pulled back a shot with birdie on the 18th but was left with some work to do on the final day if she wished to add to her four career victories on the LPGA Tour.
Even if she fails to make up that ground, the tournament still represents a successful return to golf for Ko. The 17-year-old recently skipped two tournaments as she rested her troublesome wrist, a joint that had been stricken by a cyst caused by over-practising.
Ko underwent specialist treatment in Korea and spent her time away from the course being a normal teenager in Orlando, going to movies and amusement parks with friends.
The Kiwi cut down on her practice sessions and the break appears to have done her some good in Malaysia, equalling her best round as a professional in shooting a bogey-free seven-under on the second day at the $2.6m event.
Ko has shown her ability to match it with the best in the game during an outstanding debut season as a professional. She has already recorded two wins and another top-10 finish today will be her 11th of the season. Currently sitting third in the LPGA Tour's Race to the CME Globe, Ko could be in line for a US$1 million ($1.3m) prize if she emerges triumphant from the season-long points race.
