Minjee Lee and Nasa Hataoka each posted 64s on Friday and 65s on Saturday to share the 36-hole lead at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, which is a 54-hole event. They lead at 13-under and are two shots clear of Lexi Thompson, who carded a 7-under, 64 on Saturday.
Lee made seven birdies and one bogey on Saturday while Hataoka was bogey-free. They have each made just one bogey through 36 holes.
Lee, 22, will aim for her second win of the season while Hataoka, 19, is looking for her first career win.
Lee's confidence is beaming with six top 10s this year. She ranks fourth on the Race to the CME Globe.
"I've been hitting it pretty well and putting it pretty well coming into this event and obviously into next week (KPMG Women's PGA Championship) as well," said Lee. "I think I have pretty good confidence going into next week and tomorrow as well."
Ariya Jutanugarn and Celine Boutier are in a tie for fourth at 10-under.
Lexi and Ariya with Chance at Rolex No. 1
Lexi Thompson moved from T30 to third and Ariya Jutanugarn jumped from T15 to a tie for fourth with stellar rounds. Thompson, at No. 3 in the world, and Jutanugarn, at No. 2 in the world, are both in position to snatch the No. 1 world ranking.
Thompson's 64 was even more impressive than it looks when you consider the course. She only hits three to four drivers and really has to rely on her 3-wood.
"Yeah this golf course is a little different of a setup for me, I only get to hit really three drivers, maybe four, so it's a lot of 3-woods, a lot of hybrids," explained Thompson. "But the course is in great shape for us. It's just all about placement, just get in the fairway. I had a slow start yesterday, but then really picked up on the back nine and I just kind of took that into today."
Thompson made just one birdie over her first nine holes. She's made 11 birdies over her last 27 holes.
Jutanugarn has a bit more realistic of a chance to take No. 1. If Ariya wins and Inbee Park, the current No. 1, finishes fourth or worse, Ariya will go to No. 1 in the world. If Ariya finishes second and Inbee finishes 19th or worse she would also go to No. 1.
For Thompson, she must win and Inbee has to finish 21st or worse and Ariya must finish third or worse.
2017 Epson Tour Graduate Boutier Chance at First Top 10
Celine Boutier won twice on the Epson Tour in 2017 and finished third on the money list. She had ski-high expectations and those didn't fade after she won on the Ladies European Tour near the end of 2017.
However, she struggled early on the LPGA, missing the cut in her first four starts.
Things are starting to turn around as she has made five of the last six cuts and heads into the final round in a tie for fourth at 10-under after back-to-back 66s.
"I'm just getting used to traveling and being on Tour," explained Boutier. "I feel like I've been playing new courses all year, so it has been a learning process. I just really like the course this week, I feel like it's fitting my game very well, so it's been going well. Hopefully, tomorrow will be on the same line."
Even though she went without a paycheck until the second week of April, Boutier is up to 82nd on the LPGA money list and has a chance for a big payday on Sunday.
Two Razorbacks will Play Sunday Near Fayetteville
Stacy Lewis hit her tee shot on hole 17 and then did the "Calling of the Hogs" in unison with the crowd as she walked up the par-3 towards the green. She even explained to Shanshan Feng how to do the cheer.
Then, she dropped a 20-footer for birdie. It was one of the highlights of the day for the four former or current Razorbacks in the field.
Gaby Lopez, who played at Arkansas from 2012 through 2015, held the 18-hole lead, but struggled on Saturday with a 4-over, 75 and dropped down to T42. Unfortunately, Lewis also struggled and dropped from T15 to T42 after a 1-over, 72.
Current Arkansas golfers Dylan Kim and Maria Fassi both missed the cut. Kim turned in rounds of 70-72 while Fassi went 73-73.
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