Concord teen Yealimi Noh one shot off lead at LPGA Tour event

Yealimi Noh, the 17-year-old from Concord who got into the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wis., through Monday qualifying, is one stroke behind going into Sunday’s final round as she chases her first LPGA Tour title.

She ended Friday’s second round one shot behind as well. The difference now is she is fifth place, as three other golfers joined second-round leader Sung Hyun Park atop the leaderboard.

Still, Noh is playing steady golf. Playing in the final pairing, she matched Park, the world No. 1, with a 3-under-par 69.

Park, Shanshan Feng (65), Tiffany Joh (66), and Ariya Jutanugarn (67) were at 20-under 196.

“It’s crazy,” Noh said. “I was always watching them on TV and seeing those names — and seeing my name up there and not having to scroll all the way down — it’s really weird. But it’s nice.”

Noh, 17, played in the final group with Park and matched her with a 69. Noh had a chance to share the lead until her 18-foot birdie chance on her final hole missed.

Feng and Joh each bogeyed the opening hole and made up for it with a series of birdies and an eagle on the par-5 13th. They will be in the final group Sunday as Joh, a UCLA alum, goes after her first LPGA Tour victory.

Right in front of them will be Park and Jutanugarn, both major champions who have been No. 1 in the world and captured all the big awards on the LPGA Tour.

Twelve players were separated by five shots going into the last round on a course known to give up low scores. A year ago, Sei Young Kim won at 31-under par.

PGA Tour: Cal alum Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff grew up about 30 minutes apart in Southern California and golfed against each other in high school.

Sunday’s competition could result in a much bigger reward. The first-month professionals are in prime...