TITLE CHARGE
Ariya moves to within two of lead in Hainan
>> HAINAN: Jessica Korda caught Minjee Lee yesterday in the Blue Bay LPGA. Ariya Jutanugarn made up even more ground to move into contention for her sixth victory of the season.
Korda shot a six-under-par 66 at Jian Lake to make up seven strokes on Lee for a share of the lead, and Ariya had a 65 to cut her deficit from eight to two shots and get in the final group today.
In hot and mostly calm conditions four days after Typhoon Sarika hit the South China Sea beach resort, Korda had five birdies in a six-hole stretch and got up-and-down for another on the par-five 18th.
“I missed a lot of birdie opportunities at the beginning and I was just saying in my head, ‘Stay patient.’ and, ‘Stay positive’,” the 23-year-old American said.
“Yesterday, I was four over through seven and then battled back to shoot even par. I was really proud of myself to keep myself in it. I just knew that I can make birdies out here.”
Lee had a 73, also getting up-anddown for birdie on 18 to match Korda at 11-under 205. The 20-year-old Australian began the day six strokes ahead of Germany’s Caroline Masson after shooting 65-67 the first two rounds.
“It wasn’t that windy today, so I guess you could be a bit more aggressive at the pins,” Lee said. “I wasn’t striking it that well, so I think I just got by making up-and-down.”
The second-ranked Ariya had the best round of the day on the course with difficult to hit valleys and plateaus on the large greens.
“This course, you have to be really patient,” Ariya said. “I was just like waiting for birdies, not really rushing, trying to make birdies. Just trying to have fun.’’
The 20-year-old Thai star leads the tour in victories and tops the player of the year points race.
Masson (71) was seven under, and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum (69) was six under.
Michelle Wie (71) was tied for seventh at three under. She has only one top-25 finish this year, a tie for 25th in February in the second event of the season, and needed a sponsor exemption to get in the event.
Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70) and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (75) were another stroke back.