QUOTABLE
Anna Nordqvist, Sweden (198, -18), on the key to her 64:
“I think I hit most of the greens today. Had real good lines and the speed. Made a few longer ones today, which obviously helps. Hit a 3 wood to just a few inches on the long par 3, the fourth hole, to tap in, which probably was a really good birdie to get my round going. But overall, it was solid. I feel like I had a lot of in between numbers, but I feel like I controlled those half shots a little bit better than I have done in the past, so just very happy and finish out with the birdie making.”
So Yeon Ryu, Rep. of Korea (200, -16), on the key for Sunday:
“I just knew I just needed to loosen up a little bit. I think I just really wanted to play well. I really want to win the tournament. And that may be extra pressure. But sometime you got to loosen up to play better. So, I think that’s the key point.”
Angela Stanford, United States (201, -15), on 45 holes in a row without bogey:
"They say absence makes the heart grow fond. I stopped coming here for a couple years, because I couldn't figure out the golf course. And then to have, I think it was like 45 holes without a bogey. I don't think I have ever done that in my career. So, I have no idea. I'm putting pretty well. I think that's probably what's kind of kept things looking good."
Lydia Ko, New Zealand (203, -13), on taking advantage of the par-5 holes:
"I think the par 5's have been huge. And especially now that 16 has become a par 5, I think it makes it really interesting, especially for tomorrow, where there are so many players with similar scores where an eagle and a par, that's a two-shot swing straight away. So, I think it's really cool. I think it will make it really interesting, you know, for this weekend."
NOTABLE
- Rolex Rankings No. 14 Anna Nordqvist has made three prior starts at the Meijer LPGA Classic, with her best-finish of T13 coming in 2016 (she did not play the event in 2017)
- Eight-time LPGA winner Nordqvist is searching for her first victory since the 2017 Evian Championship, she’s won in each of the last four seasons (2014-17) but has just one top-10 finish in 11 starts in 2018
- Nordqvist has held at least a share of the lead heading into the final round five times in her career with three resulting in victories (in 72-hole events)
- Rolex Rankings No. 174 Lee-Anne Pace’s third-round 64 (-8) ties her lowest career 18-hole score-to-par - she shot a 61 in the third round of last year’s Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give when the course was reduced to a par 69
- In 10 LPGA starts this season, Pace has five made cuts with a season-best T39 at the Kia Classic – her last top-10 finish was T5 at the 2016 Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship
- Pace has held a share of the third-round lead one time in her career at 72-hole events, she went on to finish T4 at the 2014 Marathon Classic
- This is the first time Rolex Rankings No. 6 So Yeon Ryu (64-67-69) has put together three straight rounds in the 60s at a tournament since the 2017 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia
- In her two previous starts at the Meijer LPGA Classic, Ryu finished fourth (2015) and sixth (2016)
- Ryu’s best finish of the 2018 season is a fourth place result at the HUGEL-JTBC LA Open, one of two top-10s on the year
- Rolex Rankings No. 46 Caroline Masson is a perfect 13-for-13 in cuts made this season, with two top-10 finishes including season-best T7 finishes at both the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship and the Kingsmill Championship
- After missing four cuts in a row, Rolex Rankings No. 68 Angela Stanford is coming off a T10 finish at the U.S. Women’s Open - one of two top-10 finishes in 13 starts in 2018
- Rolex Rankings No. 53 Azahara Munoz’s third-round score of 65 ties her lowest round of the season, she also shot 65 in the first round of the Kingsmill Championship
- Rolex Rankings No. 29 Nasa Hataoka had an ace on No. 14 in the third round from 147 yards using an 8-iron, winning a Kia Sorento in the process
- After the third round, defending champion Brooke Henderson is T20 at 9-under par
- 12 players inside the top 10 represent nine different countries: South Africa, Sweden, Rep. of Korea, USA, Germany, Japan, Spain, New Zealand, Thailand
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