Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko remains atop the leaderboard after the penultimate round at the Gainbridge LPGA event at Florida on Sunday (NZ time).
Starting her day in a share of the lead with American Danielle Kang, Ko has pulled two shots clear with an even-par 72 to finish at 11-under overall.
Kang shot two-over par for the day to fall back to second, with France's Celine Boutier a shot behind in third.
Strong winds wreaked havoc at the Boca Rio Golf Club, with just a handful of players managing to shoot a below-par round.
Ko's round included just a solitary birdie at the 10th hole, as well as a bogey on the seventh.
She was able to stay steady through the back nine, while rival Kang dropped shots on consecutive holes at the 14th and 15th.
The world No. 3 leaned on her red-hot putter to rescue her from some difficult situations, including a clutch par-save on the 18th hole.
Ko is just a week removed from her 10th place finish at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Florida, as she looks to ride her momentum from her resurgent 2021 campaign.
Last year, the 24-year-old snapped her three-year LPGA title streak, won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average on tour to rocket up the LPGA rankings.
