Four share LPGA lead after Park’s 75

A disappointing day by second-round leader Sung Hyun Park enabled a pack of notable players to move to the top of the leaderboard on Saturday in the third round of the LPGA CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla.

Park held a three-stroke lead heading into the third round, but she shot a 3-over-par 75 on Saturday at the Tiburon Golf Club, pushing her into a seven-way tie for fifth, one stroke behind the four players who share the lead.

Kim Kaufman shot a 64 on Saturday, and she is tied for the lead at 10-under-par 206 with Michelle Wie (66), Suzann Pettersen (69) and Ariya Jutanugarn (67).

Those tied with Park a stroke back are Stacy Lewis (67), Karine Icher (68), Lexi Thompson (69), Austin Ernst (69), Jessica Korda (70) and Pernilla Lindberg (71).

Problems with the driver plagued Park, who would collect Player of the Year honors if she wins this event. She missed seven fairways Saturday and had three bogeys and a double bogey.

“I think the tee shots were not quite solid, so there was something missing out there,” Park said. “Over the course of four days there is always a day when you are not in top shape and that was today.

“Keeping your focus all four days is difficult. The key is how you cover up your loss of focus. There are a lot of top players on the leaderboard. The key tomorrow will be keeping my focus.”

Kaufman was the big mover with her round of 64.

“I’ve been resting at home for two weeks,” said Kaufman, who lives in South Dakota, where it was 20 degrees.

Wie sat out nearly two months following an emergency appendectomy. She returned to action in Korea a month ago.

“I really did struggle for a bit just really trying to get my feel back, but every week was an improvement,” said Wie. “Every week I felt like I got a little part of my game back. From last week I felt pretty good. I’m just excited to end the season on a good note.”

Lurking just a stroke back is Thompson.

“I’m in a good position for tomorrow,” she said. “but I am just going to focus on one shot at a time and just visualize my shots out there.”

Thompson had a double bogey at No. 1, but recovered with five birdies.

“I’m going to try a little something a little different tomorrow just to make sure that I’m nice and relaxed going into that first tee shot,” said Thompson. “There is always that little bit of adrenaline and just wanting to get playing and get out there and just get started. So there is always that bit of adrenaline, but you have to tame it and control it.”