Up-and-down day but Brooke holds on to Hawaii lead
Canada’s Brooke Henderson entered the third round of the LOTTE Championship with a two-shot lead and made three birdies on her outward nine to stretch her lead to five at the turn in Oahu, Hawaii.
Instead of building on her comfortable cushion on the back nine, however, Henderson stumbled coming home.
After a birdie on the par-5 13th got her to 12-under, Henderson made a four-putt double on the par-3 16th to slide back to 10-under.
Then, she went long on her approach on 18 and made bogey from the back bunker to finish at nine-under.
“I hit it so well today that it kind of sucks to walk off the course one-over when I know it could’ve been so much better,” explained a disappointed Henderson.
“But on the plus side I’m still leading, which is always great going into the final round. Hopefully, I can hit it just as well as I had today and hopefully make a few more putts.”
Henderson’s once five-shot lead had nearly completely evaporated as she’ll take a one-shot lead into the final-round. America’s Mo Martin made an eagle on 13 and a tricky foor-foot par on 18 to post a 72 to remain at 8-under.
“I’ve been kind of struggling with my putting all year,” said Henderson.
“First few rounds, I had it going and I felt confident with it; then on the back nine I just kept missing every single putt and I got a little bit down.
“That’s always a terrible way to be, especially when you’re still leading the tournament.”
Nasa Hataoka and Inbee Park are just two back of Henderson at seven-under. Lizette Salas and Shanshan Feng are three back, while Pernilla Lindberg and Daniela Iacobelli are just four back with 18 holes to play.
While it’s only a slim cushion, Henderson remained upbeat knowing she’ll have a chance at win No. 6.
“I would’ve liked it to be a lot more, but one shot is good. I know there are still a ton of really talented players really close behind me, so I’ll have to go out and make a lot of birdies and hopefully it’s my day.” After the front nine, Henderson had made just one bogey and 13 birdies over the first 45 holes of the tournament.
England’s Bronte Law lies nine shots off the lead in a tie for 28th after her thirdround 69 kept her at level-par for the tourney.