PALM SPRINGS – It was with an eagle at the 18th hole that twice helped Brittany Lincicome capture the ANA Inspiration. This time it was a dramatic eagle on Saturday at the final hole of the day that gave Lexi Thompson the outright lead. The 2014 champion carded a third round 3-under par, 69 to lead by one at 10-under par.
Thompson started the day with a share of the lead with Ai Miyazato at 7-under par, but quickly got passed on the leaderboard as players went low on moving day. With a birdie at the second she moved into a share of the lead at 8-under par but backed up with bogeys at the 8th and 10th holes to fall back to 6-under par after making the turn and trailed by as many as three on the back nine.
“Yeah, I was a little off,” Thompson said about her putting. “I thought the practice green was a lot faster today, and I got out there, and they were a little slower. I was just a little timid, but putting is all about confidence, so I just need to roll a few in and get that confidence going.”
But Thompson caught fire coming in, making back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th holes to climb within one. At the final hole of the day Thompson took advantage of her length on the par 5, to stick her approach to within tap in range for eagle and the outright lead.
“Yeah, it was a quick change out there with my last few holes, but it was a bit of a struggle my first 10. Just on the greens, struggled a bit, just putting a little timid, but to finish like that definitely turns around my confidence, and I feel really good going into tomorrow,” said Thompson.
Click here to watch highlights from Thompson's third round.
She leads a trio at 9-under par that includes major champions Lydia Ko and In Gee Chun as well as Ariya Jutanugarn, who finished T-20 as a rookie at this event last season. 36-hole co-leader Ai Miyazato is T-5 with Charley Hull at 8-under par.
Continuing her best showing of 2016, Michelle Wie is within striking distance of the lead heading into the final round, posting a 2-under par, 70 to finish the day at 7-under par, just three-strokes back of Thompson.
Click here for complete scores from the third round of the ANA Inspiration.
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