With another under-par round, Ayaka Furue moves into first place after a third-round 68 at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. She managed to bypass Rolex Rankings No. 3 Celine Boutier to take the lead by two shots headed into the final round of play at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
Furue moved quickly on Moving Day to take claim of the lead, making back-to-back birdies on the first and second holes. Upon reaching eight-under par after the second birdie, the Japanese player was untouchable for the rest of the day. Furue continued and claimed two pars on the next two holes, before dropping another birdie on the par-5, No. 5. She made her last birdie of the front nine two holes later, on the par-3 7th hole. Furue’s score extended to 10-under, with a lead of three shots headed into the back nine.
The LPGA and JLPGA Tour winner had a steady back nine of play, making bogey on hole 12 and then responding with a birdie on the par-5 13th hole. Furue continued to make pars as she finished her round and held her position at 10-under par for the tournament.
“The front nine holes, I had like three birdies, and I just kind of keep my momentum going. So that's really good for me,” said Furue, who won the 2022 Women’s Scottish Open. “I just feel excited to be part of the top of the leaderboard. I was just thinking about catching up with Celine today and making birdies. I just feel good.”
Upon her finish, the closest player to her was Hannah Green, who had birdied the last hole to reach eight-under par for the tournament and cap off a round of 67. This was Green’s best round of the 2024 LPGA Tour season thus far, thanks to six birdies scattered across the scorecard. The Aussie made three birdies on her front nine on holes 2, 6 and 8, and three more on Nos. 12, 16 and 18 on her back nine. With her round, she moved from ninth place to solo second place.
“I didn't really hit many greens again today or fairways, but I managed to miss it in the right areas to give myself the best chance to make par. That was important today, as not sure how the weather will be tomorrow,” said three-time LPGA Tour winner, Green. “I knew I needed to make pars on certain holes and not be as aggressive and when I have wedge in my hand, try to go for the pin. My caddie and I do a good job of that. It can be tough. Even though I shot 5-under, it still felt like a lot of work compared to yesterday. Put myself in good position for tomorrow.”
LPGA Tour winners Andrea Lee and Celine Boutier sit three shots behind Furue, and one behind Green headed into Sunday. Lee matched Green for the second-lowest round of the day at five-under par and slid 12 spots up the leaderboard. Shooting a 72 in her third round, Boutier dropped into a tie for third after three bogeys, one birdie and an eagle were added to her scorecard. The duo both look to add a win to their list of accolades, with Lee seeking her second-career victory and Boutier her seventh.
Four players sit in a tie for fifth at six-under par and five shots within the lead including defending champion Jin Young Ko, Hye-Jin Choi, Peiyun Chien, and Nasa Hataoka. Players return to Sentosa Golf Club for the final round tomorrow, starting with tee times at 7:15 a.m.
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