Date: September 16, 2018
Author: Mark Hayes

Kirk hits back as field strings out

She might have left herself a French Alp to climb, but Katherine Kirk's Evian Championship dream remains alive heading into tonight's final round.

Kirk, after a flat second round, bounced back with a superb five-under-par 66 on day three to reach six under and a share of 13th at Evian-Les-Bains, France – a venue at which she finished third last year.

She's two strokes clear of fellow Aussie Minjee Lee (69), who shares 21st place, with the pack chasing a pair of players who've not previously won in a major championship, giving the strung-out bunch some final-round hope.

American Amy Olson carded her second consecutive 65 to vault to 14 under, two clear of Korean Sei Young Kim, the LPGA Tour record-holder for lowest tournament score set in winning the Thornberry Classic at 31 under in July.

Kim has five times finished in the top five in major championships and, while a seven-time winner on the LPGA, winning a big one was clearly on her mind.

"The big goal is to win a major tournament. I wish I could," Kim said.

Mo Martin, a former Women's British Open winner, is a further two shots back on 10 under.

A further shot back was a group of three players including Georgia Hall (68), the homegrown British Open winner last month, and former world No.1 Inbee Park, of Korea.

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