Late stumble costs Henderson in Hawaii

aLOS ANGELES: A late stumble left Brooke Henderson clinging to a one-shot lead Friday at the LPGA Tour Lotte Golf Championship in Hawaii, as she headed into this weekend’s final round.

The talented 20-year-old from Canada had looked poised to take a comfortable four-shot cushion into Saturday’s fourth round after a battling display on the par-72 course at Ko Olina Golf Club, Oahu.

But Henderson’s round came unstuck with a double-bogey on the par-three 16th, followed by a bogey on 18 to turn what had looked like being a solid two-under-par score into a one-over 73.

The closing hole slip-up left Henderson on nine under for the tournament, giving encouragement to a crowded field behind her who are all within striking distance.

American Mo Martin was one off the pace after a third round 72 left her at eight under.

Martin was two over for the day after 10 holes but rescued her round with an eagle on the par-five 13th to stay close.

Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and South Korea’s Park In-bee are two off the lead on seven under. Hataoka shot a four-under-par 68 while Park carded a one-under-par 71.

Chinese star Feng Shanshan missed the opportunity to make a charge with a two-over-par 74 which left her tied for fifth place on six under, three off the lead, alongside American Lizette Salas.

Newly minted major champion Pernilla Lindberg was a shot back on five under. Lindberg, winner of this month’s ANA Inspiration, shot a one-over-par 73, leaving her four off the front.

In Washington, American Bryson DeChambeau fired a seven-under-par 64 Friday to seize a one-stroke lead over Britain’s Ian Poulter and South Korean Kim Si-woo at the US PGA Heritage golf tournament.

DeChambeau, who won his first PGA title at last year’s John Deere Classic, stood on 10-under 132 after 36 holes at Hilton Head, South Carolina, in the traditional return to tour golf after last week’s Masters.

After sharing 38th last week at Augusta National, DeChambeau opened on 68 and followed with another low-scoring round, making birdies on four of the last six holes.

DeChambeau reached the green in two at the par-5 second and holed a 10-foot eagle putt, but never found the fairway in making bogey at the third. He answered with back-to-back birdies on 3-foot putts at the par-5 fifth and par-4 sixth, then added another at the eighth before a lost ball off the ninth tee led to another bogey.

Closing with a flourish, DeChambeau birdied 13, the par-5 15th, 16 and the par-3 17th on a 12-foot putt to grab the lead. After finding a bunker at 18, he sank a testy 12-footer for par to keep the second-round lead.

Kim began on the back nine and birdied 13 from 18 feet, then suffered a triple-bogey at the par-3 14th. He was imposed a two-shot penalty for touching sand with his hand in a bunker while thinking he was on the greenside fringe.