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Lydia Ko showed why she is the world’s No 1 golfer today as she fought her way into medal contention with a brilliant third round of 65.

Ko began the day in 21st position and almost out of the medal reckoning, but she fired four birdies and a sensational hole in one eagle on the eighth to leave herself in second equal position at the end of the day.

Only South Korean Inbee Park, the woman Ko supplanted at the top of the world rankings, is ahead of her. Park struggled at times today, but finished the day 11 under par, two ahead of Ko.

American Gerina Piller is second equal with Ko.

The third round of a big tournament is often known as moving day, and Ko certainly got moving, flying by several big names in her race up the leaderboard.

American Stacy Lewis, Briton Charley Hull and Canadian Brooke Henderson all lost considerable ground to Ko today.

Ko, 19, began as she meant to go on, firing a birdie on the opening hole. There were more birdies on 5, 6 and 9, and the memorable hole in one on the eighth.

The New Zealander said yesterday she had not been beginning her rounds well enough and needed to have a better outward nine. She certainly did that today with a 29. She parred every hole on the homeward nine.

She was in a buoyant mood afterwards.

The hole in one had her buzzing, though she displayed surprisingly little emotion at the time.

“It was the perfect shot at the perfect time,” she said.

“I almost didn't know how to react because it was my first one and the wind was blowing. I haven't had the best of luck when it comes to hole in ones.

“I would have loved to have a dance or jumped up and down. It was really cool. It just puts the cherry on top.”

Ko emphasised again how pleased she was just to be able to play at the Olympics.

“This was all about having fun, competing in the Olympics. To have my first hole in one I will never forget this. It doesn't get any better than that.”

She said she was pleased she had put herself in a position to have a real shot at winning a medal tomorrow.

“To still have the chance of being on the podium was great. I had 6 under in my head before the round, so to do that is really cool.

“I didn't have much momentum with the putter the past two days so

to see some putts going in boosted my confidence a little bit.”

Ko said she would be careful not to get ahead of herself tomorrow.

“We all know there is a lot on the line tomorrow, but I just have to focus on the shot in front of me and have fun.

“Ever since I was 9 I imagined myself representing New Zealand at the Olympics. To stand on the podium is more than you can imagine.

“It’s going to be a very cool feeling. Hopefully I get a chance to do that. There's a lot of golf ahead.  I just have to focus on the one shot I have.”

Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games Lydia Ko Golf
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