Lydia Ko dominates on moving day at the LPGA’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, while ex-NHL star Jeremy Roenick sets up a final-round battle with struggling Annika Sorenstam and Derek Lowe

Annika Sorenstam likely ended the third round of the LPGA Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions with a sense of deja vu after former NHL star Jeremy Roenick knocked her off her spot.

The LPGA legend, 53, had shared the celebrity lead with Roenick one night but struggled on Saturday, falling to second place with longtime rival Derek Lowe on Saturday as the ex-NHL player took a reached a two-point lead.

The standings offer the possibility of a repeat of Sorenstam’s playoff loss to Lowe two years ago. Only this time, it’s Roenick who will threaten the 72-time LPGA winner’s chances at Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida.

However, Lydia Ko, who had been the overnight professional co-leader of Japan’s Ayaka Furue, moved closer to ending her LPGA drought.

The 26-year-old not only clung to the top of the professional rankings, but also established a two-shot cushion as she eyed victory at the Tournament of Champion.

Annika Sorenstam struggled to disappear from the top of the celebrity leaderboard on day three

Ex-NHL player Jeremy Roenick opened up a two-shot lead heading into the final round

Ko failed to get into the winner’s circle on the LPGA last year during a disastrous 12 months, with her victories at the Gainbridge LPGA in Boca Rio, the BMW Ladies Championship and the CME Group Tour Championship in 2022 further cementing her place in Orlando but just sealed.

However, the New Zealander moved to the Lake Nona area in 2019 and has certainly seized home advantage as with four more birdies on Saturday she continued her bogey-free streak that started late on Thursday.

The former world number 1’s four-under 68 took a two-shot lead over 19-year-old Alexa Pano, who took advantage of moving day to move up the rankings.

She achieved the first bogey-free round of her LPGA career, climbing from fifth place with a five-under 67 to sit two shots behind Ko in her Tournament of Champions debut.

But Furue, who had taken the lead in the opening two rounds after her explosive play on day one, struggled to find her spark.

Nothing seemed to happen for the 23-year-old, which, combined with a lack of accuracy in the fairway, saw her fall five shots behind her co-leader.

Furue is tied for fourth at seven under, alongside Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, while Ally Ewing kept herself in the mix at eight under.

19-year-old Alexa Pano took advantage of moving day to climb the ranks of the pros

Co-leader Ayaka Furue struggled to find her spark last night and dropped to shared fourth place

Charley Hull made a move of her own on moving day, joining reigning champion Brooke Henderson and rising star Rose Zhang in a tie for seventh at six under.

Sorenstam, a retired 10-time major winner, narrowly missed winning the celebrity division two years ago when Lowe defeated her in a playoff.

Now history appears to be repeating itself as the Swede, who had led after both the first and second rounds, was swept away by yet another retired sports star.

This time it was former Chicago Blackhawks center Roenick who tied with Sorenstam at the top of the leaderboard heading into the third round.

The former NHL standout overcame a shaky front nine that featured a bogey and two double bogeys within the first five holes to take the solo lead with 107 points, two shots ahead of Sorenstam and Lowe.

Former MLB pitcher and former winner Derek Lowe is in second place behind Sorenstam

Roenick could have extended his lead further, but missed a birdie opportunity on the 17th.

Sorenstam is said to have entered the clubhouse feeling lucky to still be in contention after imploding on the back nine.

The icon, who usually displayed cool Nordic composure, carded three bogeys and two doubles after the turn, sacrificing a dominant lead.

Instead, she puts on an exciting final-day battle with Roenick and Lowe, proving that the competitive spirit never completely leaves a retired athlete.