Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson share the 54-hole lead at 23-under-par entering the final-round of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
“I couldn’t tell you,” Lewis said of the key to her day. “That was probably the best round I think I’ve ever shot on Tour in relation to par, so just a cool day. I didn’t exactly hit it perfect, got away with a few shots, but just took advantage of it, and I didn’t even know what I shot there at the end of the day.“
Lewis, who tied the low round of the day with a 10-under 63, had seven birdies, one bogey and two eagles on her card.
“I knew I needed to be aggressive out there today, and it wasn’t pretty at times, wasn’t perfect, but the scorecard turned out great,” Lewis admitted. “You’ve just gotta take advantage. When those missed hits work out good, you take advantage of it, and that’s what I did today."
Lewis will take a share of the 54-hole lead into a final-round for the first time since the 2015 Honda LPGA Thailand where she finished tied for second, one of her 11 runner-up finishes since her last victory.
“That’s where I wanted to be,” Lewis said of being in the final group. “When I walked up on 18, kind of said I needed that putt to make sure I was in that last group. I think it’s important just to kind of know what’s going on. I did a good job of not looking at leaderboard today, and I want to continue doing that so you get a feel for what’s going on. It’s definitely the goal. The goal coming in this week was to have a chance on Sunday, and I did that, so now it’s just go out there and play golf.“
Thompson, who shot a career-low 61 yesterday, backed it up with a solid bogey free 66.
“I replayed it a few times,” Thompson said of her second round 61. “I just like to think about the shots and the putts that I made, and it helps with confidence, but coming out here with no wind, it’s just you have to make a lot of birdies to make a move on anybody. I shot 7 under and I’m tied, so it’s crazy, but we will see what tomorrow will bring.”
Rounding out the final group will be Gerina Piller who sits a shot back at 22-under par.
“Really just keeping it in the fairway and keeping it close, and I have had several tap in birdies which always helps,” Piller said of the key to her day. “The greens are in great condition and that helps when you hit the ball on line. That’s what you gotta do to get it to go in, so hitting fairways and getting on the green.”
Due to the inclement weather forecasted for tomorrow afternoon, starting times for the final-round will be 8:00am – 10:23am, off of #1 and #10 tees in groups of three.
NELLY KORDA TIES LOW ROUND OF THE DAY
Nelly Korda tied the round of the day, a 10-under 63, during the third-round of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic to move from T32 into a tie for sixth.
“Truthfully just everything was clicking, so wherever I could get birdie, great, and wherever I could get par great, too,” Korda said. “I was just trying to hit the middle of the green. You know what, I made some really good shots and made some really great putts, so very fortunate.”
The LPGA rookie is excited to be making her debut on the LPGA Tour in the Bahamas.
“Really excited,” Korda said. “I’m so happy to be out here. It’s been my dream. I was definitely nervous my first day and my first nine holes, and I’m glad I kinda got those nerves out of way, and now I can play some golf. “
One thing that has helped Korda is having her older sister Jessica around for support.
“It’s been amazing. Her support is amazing. I was walking on the fairway on No. 18, and we gave each other a little high five. It’s great to have her out here. A dream come true, truthfully.“
RED, WHITE AND BLUE LEADERBOARD
Six of the top-8 players on the leaderboard at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic hail from the United States including 54-hole co-leaders Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson.
“It’s just proved that it’s always been there,” Lewis said. “Everybody asks if there’s been a problem, and there’s never been a problem, and it’s just proof of that. It’s good to see the girls we all put work in over the off time. We had a Solheim meeting, and Julie took us to dinner at CME, and she said that to everybody, “Get to work this off season. I know you guys want to take a break, but get to work,” and it’s kind of proof that they did, so it’s good.”
NUMBERS TO KNOW
- 27 - The LPGA scoring record in relation to par for 72 holes is 27-under set the following times:
27, 261 (65-59-69-68) Annika Sorenstam, Moon Valley Country Club, Phoenix, Ariz., 2001 Standard Register PING, par 72
27, 261 (63-66-70-62) Sei Young Kim, Wildfire Golf Club, Phoenix, Ariz., 2016 JTBC Founders Cup, par 72
- 10 - Stacy Lewis’ 10-under is the lowest score in relation to par in her career
- 11 - Stacy Lewis has 11 runner-up finishes since her last victory which came at the 2014 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
- 65 - Stacy Lewis has gone 65 events without a win, he last victory came at the 2014 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
- 4 - Gerina Piller has four runner-up finishes and 31 top-10 finishes in her LPGA Career
- 5 - Lexi Thompson is one of only five players on the LPGA or PGA Tour to have won an event in each of the last four seasons. Dustin Johnson (9 straight), Jimmy Walker (4 straight), Patrick Reed (4 straight) and Lydia Ko (5 straight) are the other four
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