Jutanugarn has CP title in sight
But Thai star sees lead shrink to two over South Korea’s Chun
PRIDDIS, Alta. — Ariya Jutanugarn had just bogeyed the finishing hole at Priddis Greens for the second time in three rounds, a surprising development since there is only one other square on her scorecard this week. Worried? Not one bit. “I just missed my tee shot today,” Jutanugarn said with a shrug. “Nothing wrong with No. 18.”
And what about the leaderboard at the 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, that concludes with Sunday’s final spin?
After giving back a stroke on the 522-yard closer, Jutanugarn is only two shots up on South Korea’s In Gee Chun, her closest challenger. Worried? Ha! “I keep the eye on me,” Jutanugarn deadpanned. Fair enough. Jutanugarn, a long-bomber who didn’t even bother to bag a driver this week, remains in the driver’s seat.
The 20-year-old from Thailand racked up seven birdies Saturday before two late miscues left her with a round of 5-under 67.
Through three days, she has shaved 17 strokes off par.
She has missed only six fairways and hit all but seven greens in regulation.
With her trusty three-wood and a mixture of irons, she is averaging nearly 280 yards off the tee.
Her caddy hasn’t yet raked a single bunker.
“I try to chase the leader,” said South Korea’s Sei Young Kim, who is tied for third at 12-under 204 and joins Jutanugarn and Chun in Sunday’s final group. “But it seems like the leader, it’s tough to chase her.”
Kim and others in the LPGA Tour locker-room know that from experience.
Jutanugarn has collected four trophies since the beginning of May.
In each case, she was the 54-hole leader. Good luck, ladies. “After I won my first tournament, I kind of know how I play under pressure,” said Jutanugarn, who has signed for scores of 68-64-67 at Priddis Greens and doesn’t seem bothered by the left-knee injury that forced her to withdraw during the third round at the Rio Olympics.
“So I know when I get really excited what I have to do.”
Besides Chun, who fired a 66 in Saturday’s third round to move within two, nobody is especially close in Jutanugarn’s rear-view mirror.
Kim and Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow are five behind, while the group at 11 under — a half-dozen shots back — is headlined by Canada’s Alena Sharp.
The 35-year-old from Hamilton, Ont., is still seeking her first LPGA Tour triumph, but it’s becoming more and more common to see her name near the top of the leaderboard.
“I’ve been in the hunt the last couple months, playing really well, and it’s like, ‘OK, now it’s not a shock this is where I am right now,’” said Sharp, who represented Canada in Rio. “I’m riding my momentum and riding the confidence wave because I’ve definitely been on the other end of it before. It’s nice to be playing with no stress and really enjoying playing golf again.”
Sharp’s finest showing on the LPGA Tour is a tie for fifth and she admitted a career best is “kind of sitting in the back of my mind right now.”
Meanwhile, Canadian teen sensation Brooke Henderson carded a second straight 68. With a threeday tally of 8-under 208, Henderson is currently nine shots off the pace of Jutanugarn. But the superstar-in-the-making from Smiths Falls, Ont., is likely too far back to contend for the trophy.
Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., is also at 8 under, while Calgary amateur Jaclyn Lee is 4 under. World No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand sits at 10 under after a 70 Saturday.