New Zealand World No. 2 Lydia Ko on Saturday struggled through an up-and-down back-nine to share the lead into the final round of the LPGA Tour event in South Korea.

Ko shot a three-under 69 in the third round of the $2 million LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, west of Seoul, for a 13-under 203.

South Korean Park Sung-Hyun, who set the course record with a 10-under 62 in the first round, carded 67 to join Ko at the top.

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Lee Mi-Rim of the host country and Lexi Thompson of the United States are tied in third at 12-under at the par-72, 6,364-yard Ocean Course at Sky 72 Golf & Resort.

After turning at 14-under, Ko committed back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th, followed by a birdie at the 13th and a double bogey at the 14th.

But she came back with a birdie at the 15th and 17th.

"I thought I hit the ball pretty good until the shot on 11, pushed it on 12. I think that the 11th hole was a turning point where I started not hitting the ball very good," Ko said.

"On the front nine, I thought I put myself in a good position. I thought it was an okay ball-striking day. I think that when you do hit those missed shots, you kind of have to pray to get a good lie in the rough or get a little fortunate."