Kirk keeps lead, Moriya 10 strokes adrift
ONEIDA: Katherine Kirk drained a 12-foot putt to save par on her closing hole as she fired a 65 on Saturday to grab a four-shot lead after the third round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
The 35-year-old Australian sits at 20-under 196 as she aims for her third career LPGA title in the final test before next week’s US Women’s Open.
“I know I can putt well, but I think I’m like pushing the limits right now,” said Kirk, who hasn’t won on the Tour since 2010. “It’s fun. I made, I think, a 19-footer on 17 and a 19-footer there for par. It’s unexpected, but you certainly take them when you can.”
Thai world No.32 Moriya Jutanugarn slipped to joint 15th place on 10-under 206 after a 71. She had three birdies on 6, 9 and 10 and a bogey on 1 and 17.
Moriya’s compatriots Sherman Santiwatthanaphong was also on 10 under after a 66 while Pornanong Phatlum was nine under after her second successive 70.
Kirk, of Brisbane, holds a solid lead over South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai, who also shot a seven-under 65 in the third round.
Japan’s Ayako Uehara and Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England are tied for third after shooting 65 and 66 respectively.
Suzann Pettersen (66) and Cristie Kerr (67) headline a group seven golfers at 12-under 204, eight shots back of Kirk.
Several golfers had to finish second round play on Saturday morning after storms disrupted play on Friday.
Kirk, who was safely in the clubhouse with a second-round 63 before the storms hit on Friday, rolled in nine birdies in her round, including five on the back nine.
She strung together four straight birdies beginning at the par-three eighth, where she rolled in an 18-foot putt to get to 14 under.
A couple of nice approach shots on No.10 and No.11 allowed her to make it four consecutive birdies.
She made a long 20-foot putt on 17 for birdie and then another long putt on 18 to save par and preserve her four-stroke lead.
LEADING THIRD ROUND SCORES
(USA unless noted, par-72)
196 — Katherine Kirk (AUS) 68-63-65
200 — Ashleigh Buhai (RSA) 69-66-65
203 — Ayako Uehara (JPN) 72-66-65, Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 71-66-66
204 — Tiffany Joh 69-69-66, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 68-70-66, Cristie Kerr 70-67-67, Angel Yin 69-68-67, Megan Khang 68-69-67, Jaye Marie Green 68-66-70, Sandra Gal (GER) 68-64-72
205 — Alejandra Llaneza (MEX) 67-71-67, Kim SeiYoung (KOR) 65-73-67, Mariah Stackhouse 69-68-68