PGA Championship: Aditi Ashok climbs to T-43

SAMMAMISH (USA): A trifle wobbly to start with, Aditi Ashok, who relied on her strong suit - putting - to get out of trouble, found her touch around the greens in the third round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship here on Saturday.
The Indian ace came up with clutch putts, in the eight to 12 feet range, to save pars early in the round. Despite missing a handful of birdie putts and two lip outs, the 26-yearold stayed patient to post a creditable even-par 72.She climbed to tied 43rd position with a three-day total of five-over 221.
South Korea's Amy Yang, still searching for her maiden Major title, shot a gritty one-under 71 to open up a two shot lead. The 34-year-old, winner of the season-ender last year and a five-time winner on the LPGA, took her total to seven-under 209.
American Lauren Hartlage (69) and Japan's Miyu Yamashita, who shot a second straight two-under 70 on another tough scoring day at the Sahalee Country Club, were tied second on five-under 211. Overnight joint leader Sarah Schmelzel (74) was fourth a shot further back.
After scrambling for pars early in the round, Aditi had her first good chance for birdie on the 16th hole. But the world No. 60, a 10th tee starter, left the 20-foot uphill putt short. She went five feet past the pin on the next and had an unlucky lip out when putting for a birdie on the 18th from six feet.
She missed another birdie on the second hole, had a lip out on the third hole.
She missed a birdie by a whisker on the fourth, but the Bengalurean didn't let those near misses get to her. After a great par save on the fifth, she holed a 12-footer for birdie on the sixth. However, she let that advantage slip when she missed a 14-foot downhill putt, for a bogey on the penultimate hole.
Select scores (after 54 holes): 209: Amy Yang (For, 70, 68, 71); 211: Lauren Hartlage (73, 69, 69), Miyu Yamashita (Jpn, 71, 70, 70); 212: Sarah Schmelzel (US, 71, 67, 74); 213: Lilia Vu (US, 75, 70, 68), Lexi Thompson (68, 72, 73); Hinako Shibuno (Jpn, 70, 70, 73); 221: Aditi Ashok (Ind, 72, 77, 72, T-43).