Jackson Koivun, Ryleigh Knaub hold leads at Dustin Johnson World Juniors

Jackson Koivun (Chapel Hill, N.C.) and Ryleigh Knaub (Debary, Fla.) will carry three-shot leads into the final round of the Eighth Annual Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship presented by LA Golf at TPC Myrtle Beach.

Koivun, America’s No. 1 ranked junior boy, shot 71 and is 6-under par after 36 holes. He surrendered what had been a one-stroke lead after shooting 37 on the opening nine, but he rallied over the closing holes, highlighted by a birdie on No. 18 to provide a little breathing room with a quartet of challengers looming at 3-under.

Rowan Sullivan (Charleston, S.C.), Henry Guan (Irving, Texas), Ethan Paschal (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Jack Turner (Orlando, Fla.) will enter the final round hoping to make up a three-shot deficit.

Knaub shot a bogey-free 66 to set a new women’s course and tournament single-round record Saturday, and is 4-under after 36 holes. She fired 33 on both sides, turning what had been a six-shot deficit to first-round leader Madison Messimer into a three-shot lead.

After opening with a round of 68, Saturday was a testament to Messimer’s perseverance. She started on No. 10 and bogeyed five of her first eight holes but battled to shoot even par on her final nine, and enters the third round at 1-under par.

Alice Ziyi Zhao (Irvine, Calif.) shot 71 and is also 1-under for the tournament.

Courtesy of Chris King, King Fish Communications