After a blustery Saturday saw only five golfers shoot under par, Japan’s Haru Nomura heads into the final round of the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout presented by JTBC with a two shot lead over three golfers.
Nomura, who won twice in 2016 on the LPGA Tour (at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic) shot a 1-over-par 72 on Saturday. She was even par through 16 holes, but made an unfortunate double-bogey on he par-3 17th, landing her tee shot in some long grass and having a tough out.
Nomura admitted, though, she had fun in the windy conditions.
“Windy (is) easy,” she said. “I like windy and tough conditions, from fairway to green. I love it.”
South Korean amateur Eun Jeong Seong fired a 2-under-par 69 Saturday to move into a tie for second, and will be in the final group on Sunday. There have been four amateurs who have won on the LPGA Tour in its history, most recently Lydia Ko in 2013.
“I thought just even par is just so good, but I started birdie-birdie, which is why I played very easy today,” said Seong. “Very tough (playing) No’s 15, 16, 17 because of the wind, but I made par and then birdie on my last (two holes). I feel good.”
Cristie Kerr is in position to win her second-straight LPGA Tour title, as a 1-under-par 70 on Saturday in tough conditions has her just two shots back of the lead, tied with Seong and Inbee Park for second place.
“God I played really hard today,” said Kerr. “It would have been nice to make a few more putts but standing on the first tee, anything under par you would have taken it. It was a really difficult day.”
Park, who has won this tournament twice, is in position for another title, after her even-par round Saturday has her tied for second with Kerr and Seong. She said it was a ‘really tough day’ because she ended up having to get up-and-down from a lot of places, missing the greens because of the wind. In terms of her approach for tomorrow, she’s focused on notching another title in the Lone Star State.
“I think the forecast is still pretty bad tomorrow, so I think it just really depends on the weather, whether I should go really aggressive to the pins or try to give myself a putt at it,” she said. “With these windy conditions, I think it’s good to have (options). Two or three-under is a good score with these conditions, but when the wind dies down I think you can go pretty low, so the strategy kind of changes.”
Stacy Lewis shot the round of the day Saturday, with a 6-under-par 65. She was bogey-free, and admitted she was happy to have gone off early to take advantage of the somewhat calmer conditions.
“I knew getting out earlier would be an advantage to post a number and just see what happens,” she said.
The Jutanugarn sisters – Ariya and Moriya – were both over-par Saturday, and both sit tied for sixth with Americans Angela Stanford and Jessica Korda and South Korean Sung Hyun Park. The sisters will be paired together for Sunday’s final round.
After firing a 6-under-par 65 Friday, Suzann Pettersen went the other way Saturday, with a 6-over-par 77.
Pettersen wasn’t the only golfer going in reverse during the third round, as Dori Carter, who shot the round of the tournament so far (an 8-under-par 63) on Friday, matched Pettersen’s total of 6-over. It’s been a roller coaster week for Carter, who shot 76 Thursday, was 13 shots better on Friday, and then 14 shots worse Saturday.
Ko announced Saturday morning she had withdrawn from the event, citing an eye infection. Ko’s agent released a statement saying she had been suffering from an allergy to pollen all week long, and was advised by her doctor to take medical precautions. There is no current timetable for her return.
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