Annika Sorenstam likely ended round three of the LPGA Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions with a sense of deja vu after former NHL star Jeremy Roenick knocked her off her perch.
The LPGA legend, 53, had shared the celebrity overnight lead with Roenick but struggled on Saturday and slipped to tied-second with old rival Derek Lowe on Saturday as the ex-NHL player pulled to a two-point lead heading into the final round.
The leaderboard sets up the possibility of a repeat of Sorenstam’s playoff loss to Lowe two years ago. Only this time, it’s Roenick set to threaten the 72-time LPGA winner’s chances at Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida.
However, Lydia Ko, who had been the professional overnight co-leader with Japan’s Ayaka Furue, edged closer to ending her LPGA drought.
The 26-year-old not only clung to the top of the professional leaderboard but also established a two-shot cushion as she eyes victory at the Tournament of Champion.
Lydia Ko dominated at the LPGA Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions Saturday
Annika Sorenstam struggled on Day Three to slip from the top of the celebrity leaderboard
Ex-NHL player Jeremy Roenick pulled to a two-shot lead heading into the final round
Ko failed to get into the winners circle on the LPGA during a disastrous 12 months last year, with her victories at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, BMW Ladies Championship and CME Group Tour Championship in 2022 just sealing her spot in Orlando.
However, the New Zealand native moved to the Lake Nona area in 2019 and has certainly seized upon the home-course advantage as another four birdies on Saturday saw her continue her bogey-free streak which began late Thursday.
The former World No 1’s four-under 68 clinched a two-shot lead over 19-year-old Alexa Pano, who took advantage of moving day to sneak up the leaderboard.
She carded the first bogey-free round of her LPGA career to move up from fifth with a five-under 67 and sit two shots behind Ko on her Tournament of Champions debut.
But Furue, who had led through the first two rounds following her explosive game on Day One, struggled to find her spark.
Nothing seemed to drop for the 23-year-old, which, combined with a lack of accuracy on the fairway, saw her drop five shots behind her overnight co-leader.
Furue sits tied-fourth at seven-under alongside Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, while Ally Ewing kept herself in the mix at eight-under.
19-year-old Alexa Pano took advantage of moving day to sneak up the pros’ leaderboard
Overnight co-leader Ayaka Furue struggled to find her spark, slipping to tied-fourth
Charley Hull made a moving-day charge of her own, joining reigning champion Brooke Henderson and rising star Rose Zhang at tied-seventh six-under.
Sorenstam, a retired 10-time major winner, narrowly missed out on the celebrity division victory two years ago when Lowe pipped her in a playoff.
Now, history appears to be repeating itself as the Swede, who had led following both rounds one and two, was edged out by yet another retired sporting star.
This time it was former Chicago Blackhawks center Roenick who had topped the leaderboard alongside Sorenstam heading into the third round.
The former NHL standout brushed off a shaky front nine, which featured a bogey and two double-bogeys within the first five holes, to claw himself into the solo lead with 107 points, two shots ahead of Sorenstam and Lowe.
Former MLB pitcher and former winner Derek Lowe sits tied-second with Sorenstam
Roenick could have extended his lead further but missed a birdie chance on the 17th.
Sorenstam would have headed into the clubhouse considering herself lucky to still be in contention after imploding on the back nine.
The icon, usually displaying that Nordic cool composure, carded three bogeys and two doubled following the turn, sacrificing what could have been a dominant lead.
Instead, she sets up a thrilling final-day battle with Roenick and Lowe, proving that competitive drive never quite leaves a retired athlete.
