Ariya one shot behind leader in Hainan
Mexican celebrates birthday in style, leads world No.1 Ariya by one stroke in Hainan
>> HAINAN ISLAND: Gaby Lopez hit a 183yard hole-in-one as she surged into the lead of the US$2.1 million Blue Bay LPGA in China to celebrate her birthday in style yesterday.
The Mexican’s ace on the par-three 17th hole at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Club helped her leapfrog world No.1 Ariya Jutanugarn on Hainan island and Lopez — ranked a lowly 136th — is in pole position for her first title on the US-based LPGA Tour with one round to play.
Lopez’s feat was all the more satisfying because it was her 25th birthday and she had turned around after making the tee shot, not appearing to know what she had accomplished until her caddie gleefully told her.
Cue high fives all round, including with overnight l eader Ariya of Thailand.
“As soon as the ball left the club I knew it was a good shot, but I couldn’t see because the sun was in my face,” Lopez said.
“I turned around and my caddie goes, ‘It went in.’
“I’m like, ‘No way!’ I couldn’t give myself a better birthday present.”
A cameraman confirmed the ball had rolled straight in.
“I couldn’t give myself a better birthday present,” said Lopez, who was presented afterwards with two cakes.
Lopez, who was joint second going into the third round, carded a sixunder-par 66 to move to nine-under 207 for the tournament, one shot ahead of Ariya.
“I have been waiting for this moment,” the Mexican said. “I’m very lucky to share the course with the best player in the world. You know, I had fun. I enjoyed today.”
Ariya led by four strokes after the second round but slipped to a 71.
She started with a bogey five at the first and picked up consecutive birdies starting at the fifth hole to get to eight under. Following a bogey five at the 12th hole she made an eagle three at the 525-yard 14th to get to nine under before her poor drive at the last.
“Just one bad shot,” said Ariya, who averages 247 yards off the tee.
“You know what? On this course anything can happen, especially if it’s windy, the greens are so tough. I feel good about my game today. I missed a lot, but still got a lot up and down.”
The South Korean pair of Park Sung-Hyun and Kim Sei-Young were tied third on four under.
Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya’s sister, fell from tied second overnight to a share of seventh with Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (69) and Danielle Kang (69) after a disappointing 74.
The tournament wraps up five straight weeks of play for the tour in Asia.