Golf: Bogey blitz sees Lydia Ko drop off the pace at Women's PGA Championship

Lydia Ko has dropped off the pace at the LPGA's Women's PGA Championship, falling to 12th on the leaderboard after the third round in Maryland.

However, the Kiwi's performance can be excused by an issue with her right arm that needed treatment throughout the round.

Lydia Ko.
Lydia Ko. Photo credit: Image - Getty Images

Sitting in a tie for second at five-under at the halfway stage of the tournament on Saturday (NZ time), a mixed round of one-under saw Ko lose sight of the leader at Bethesda.

Ko produced a four-over round of 76 on Sunday, with four birdies cancelled out by her eight bogeys.

Starting on the front nine, Ko came undone with four birdies in five holes from the third to the seventh before making a birdie to gain a shot back on the eighth.

Three birdies in five holes - on the 10th, 11th and 14th - brought Ko back to even par for her round, only to fall even further with four straight bogeys to finish the third day.

The round dropped Ko ten places down into a seven-way share of 12th place at one-under for the tournament, seven shots behind the leader, In Gee Chun of South Korea, before Sunday night's final round.

Leading at the halfway stage, Chun saw her lead cut back to three shots after a three-over 75 in her third round - with four bogeys and one double bogey, as well as three birdies.

The trio of Lexi Thompson of the US and South Koreans Hye-Jin Choi and Sei Young Kim are the closest competitors to challenge Chun, all at five-under heading into the final round.