Golf: Salas Leads Australian Open, Ko Drops Back

ADELAIDE, Australia, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Feb, 2017 ) - American Lizette Salas seized the outright lead after the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday as world number one Lydia Ko fell even further behind at Royal Adelaide.

Salas, ranked 71, stormed to 10-under with three birdies in her final five holes for a two-under 71 in the LPGA-sanctioned event. She finished with five birdies and two bogeys to lead by two strokes from Australians Su Oh and Sarah Jane Smith along with Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum, all on eight under.

Salas played a superb back nine and grabbed the lead when she made consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th before extending the margin when she two-putted for another birdie on the par-five 17th hole.

The American, whose parents are Mexican immigrants, has been strident in her social media criticism of President Donald Trump's immigration policy, although she diplomatically stayed out of that debate at her post-round media conference. "It would be such an honour and it would be my first win overseas, my first win with my dad here," Salas said.