Brilliant back nine sends Ariya clear
PRATTVILLE: Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn fired a career-best nine-under 63 on Saturday to take a three-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Yokohama Tire Classic.
Ariya caught fire on the back nine on Saturday, making birdie on eight of nine holes to reach 14-under 202 on the Robert Trent Golf Trail course in Prattville, Alabama.
“A little bit excited,” Ariya said. “Tomorrow is going to be so much fun. I just want to enjoy it and have fun.”
The Thai had a three-shot lead over Australia’s Minjee Lee and American Ryann O’Toole, who both carded 68 for 205.
Overnight leader Ryu So-Yeon of South Korea carded a 71 and was alone in fourth on 206, one shot in front of Americans Stacy Lewis (68) and Morgan Pressel (70).
Ariya is hoping to finally break through and pick up her first US Tour victory. She has twice held 54-hole leads but failed to convert those to victories.
Earlier this season at the ANA Inspiration, the first major of the year, she led by two shots with three to play in the final round but bogeyed her final three holes to lose to Lydia Ko.
On Saturday her only back-nine par came on the 15th hole.
Her storming finish came after a shaky start that included a bogey on the par-three second. But she rebounded with birdies at five and eight.
“After I made a birdie on 10, I felt better, because I missed a few putts on the front nine,” said the 20-year-old from Bangkok.
“When I got up to the tee shot I just felt like, OK, just make a birdie on this hole, and I did.”
First round leader Laetitia Beck of Israel started her day three strokes back of Ryu, remained in the hunt with a two-under-par, 70 that left her six off the lead.
“Today I had much less pressure, knowing that I’m not leading and having to keep that lead. It made it so much easier today,” Beck said.