Maguire slips back as Henderson continues to lead

Leona Maguire slipped back at the Tournament of Champions as Canadian Brooke Henderson shot a 69 to ensure a three-shot cushion heading into the final round at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Florida.

The Cavan golfer entered round three seven shots off Henderson and knowing she'd need something special to get back into contention, but a 73 sees here sitting on three-under-par, 11 shots off the lead.

A fast start was needed by Maguire but it never arrived with five straight pars being followed by a bogey at the par-three sixth to fall to three-under-par.

Maguire took advantage of the par-five 11th to get that shot back, but bogeys at the 13th and 16th came either side of a birdie at the 14th to end her chances of competing.

Henderson had led by four shots going into the round, but that advantage was three shots by the close of play after a brilliant 66 from Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and a 68 from America’s Nelly Korda left them in joint second on 11-under-par.

Henderson has 19 professional wins to her name, including a dozen on the LPGA Tour, and she sunk four birdies across her round with the sole blemish coming on the 12th as she chases win number 20.

She held her nerve to sink a long par putt on the final green in front of a big gallery to steady herself for Sunday’s action.

FULL LEADERBOARD

It was a day to remember for Hataoka as her 66 was the lowest posted on Saturday.

Her first eight holes gave little indication of what was to come with seven pars accompanied by a bogey but an incredible run from the ninth to the 18th saw her plunder seven birdies to race into contention.

Korda’s own purple patch, where she collected five bridies in seven holes between the ninth and 15th, leaves her right in the mix too.