Chun with a chance
It’s been quite the year of close-calls for In Gee Chun, who will be playing in the last group of the day on a Sunday for the second week in a row.
Chun, who finished tied for third last week at the CP Women’s Open, is alone in third this week heading into Sunday’s finale, just four shots back of Stacy Lewis.
Chun has notched four runner-up finishes in 2017, along with her tie for third last week, but has yet to find the winner’s circle.
Her final-round scoring average hovers around 68, making it one of the best on Tour.
She said she’ll try to keep the same approach for Sunday as she’s had the previous three rounds.
“I want to try keep patient and same,” she said. “So just now I think everything is very well, so I want to keep same tomorrow.“
Chun said her day Saturday was better than her Friday, although she was a shot better during the second round.
“I think I had a lot of solid shot on the course; much better than yesterday,” she explained. “I think putter was good, too. Just slightly missed the hole. I want to try keep patient tomorrow.”
Chun will be embracing her position in the final group Sunday, as she aims for her first win of the year.
“I always enjoy playing the last group. It was pretty fun,” she explained. “I really enjoy. I'm very excited.”
Piller moves up the leaderboard
Although Gerina Piller’s Saturday night sounds pretty relaxing – “watch some college football and maybe treat myself to some pizza” – her Saturday afternoon at the Cambia Portland Classic was all business.
Piller, who was a member of the winning American Solheim Cup team two weeks ago, fired a 6-under-par 66 with only one bogey, and moved from a tie for 38th all the way to a tie for eighth, looking for her fifth top-10 finish of 2017.
She admitted she struggled to stay mentally focused during the second round, but said her caddie helped her stay on track into Saturday.
“I felt yesterday I didn't play very well at all, and it wasn't necessarily my physical game. I think just a little off mentally. I'm so thankful for my caddie. He definitely keeps me in check. He gave me just -- we had a little talk afterwards, and it just really helped today,” she said. “Just going out there to play great and not going out there to not play bad… to aim for a shot, to hit it great and not worry where it goes… Just really tried to do that today, and getting off to a start with two birdies is always a big boost. Happy where my game is.”
Piller birdied every par five on Saturday, and said that was a big boost for her.
“It says a lot,” she explained. “Four birdies a round, that's pretty good if you can have those every time.”
Piller made a point of staying focused mentally, and that helped move her up the leaderboard on Saturday, with a chance for a fine finish on Sunday.
“I wouldn't say like I hit it perfect, but I had a good mentality going into today,” she said.
Altomore on track for best finish of 2017
Last week at the CP Women’s Open, Brittany Altomore was paired with Brooke Henderson on Saturday when she fired the course record, an 8-under-par 63, in front of a robust hometown crowd.
She had never played in front of that many patrons before, but after Saturday’s 6-under-par 66 moved her into solo fourth heading into Sunday’s finale in Portland, she might be facing some similarly-sized crowds.
“I started hitting my irons really well, which I kind of struggled with last week and the beginning of this week, which gave me more opportunities to make birdies. I knew I was putting well, so I just really needed to give myself some opportunities. I did that today,” Altomore said of her round on Saturday.
Altomore said she ‘really liked’ the course this week and said she feels her game ‘really suits’ the layout.
She said she’ll head into Sunday with the same approach she’s had the last three days and try to notch her best finish of the year.
“I don't think I'll do anything different. I feel good, and I'm excited to be in this position,” she explained. “Hopefully I can capitalize on it tomorrow.”
Lopez shoots her low round of the year
Gaby Lopez has notched two top-10 finishes this year, but her 8-under-par 64 Saturday in Portland was her best round of the year by three shots.
It came at a good time, moving her from a tie for 52nd on the leaderboard all the way into a tie for fifth.
She credited a big change in her outlook as the key for her success during the third round.
“I just I think all a mindset. I know I can hit the shots. It was just keeping myself away from being Gaby in the golf course. Today I was, ‘you know what? I don't care what's going to happen. I don't care where the ball is going to go. I'm just going to make my swing.’ I think that's exactly what I did,” she explained. “I was playing really well last week and this week. I was feeling good sensations, good feelings… I think it was more look a mindset overall.”
Lopez fired a 3-under-par 69 on Thursday, but struggled with a 1-over-par 73 on Friday. Needless to say, she bounced back nicely on Saturday.
She said Columbia Edgewater Country Club is demanding off the tee and she had to put herself in better position off the tee because of how firm the greens are.
“(There are) also so many birdie opportunities that you’ve got to be patient,” she explained.
Lopez admitted she’d have a lot of momentum heading into Sunday’s finale, but she’s trying to not let that impact her approach.
“At the same time, you know, just the same belief that I've been building in myself and not letting the score determine the player I am,” said Lopez.
Jutanugarn looking for her first win
With sister Ariya at home in Thailand, Moriya Jutanugarn will look for her first LPGA Tour win Sunday, as she sits in second place in Portland, just three shots back of Stacy Lewis’ lead.
But although Moriya has a chance for a win, playing in the final group on Sunday, she’s not sure if Ariya will be watching.
“She's back in Thailand right now. I don't know if she going to watch. Maybe she’s going to text me in the morning. I don't know,” she said with a smile, admitting Ariya would wish her good luck, as she always does.
Jutanugarn fired a 6-under-par 66 Saturday. She said being patient was the key to her third-round success.
“I put myself in pretty good position. Like just kind of being patient and seeing where I should put it on the green. Then I just started to make the putt, like the ball just drop,” she said. “Back nine just a little rough sometimes. I still hit a good shot, but sometime it doesn't really go like what I want. But still, I think I hit it pretty good.”
Jutanugarn has played in the final group a handful of times in 2017, and Sunday in Portland will be no different, she said. But, she’s excited none-the-less.
“Every time (in the final group) I always learn something new. I mean, tomorrow is going to be really good experience also,” she explained. “I can't say I don't like (playing in the final group) at all. It's always really nice to play in the last group.”
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