Na Yeon Choi posted a back-nine 29 Saturday to storm into the lead after the morning wave with a birdie, eagle finish. Choi heads into the final round of the tournament with the lead since the 2014 Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic where she finished T3. Choi is looking for her second win this year and the 10th of her career and sits two strokes ahead of Anna Nordqvist (-11) and M.J. Hur (-11).

“Actually beginning of this week I felt really good about my swing and putting, so I felt like pretty confident with this tournament and this week. And then I just realized I shoot 29 on the back nine today, and that was my record,” Choi said. “I mean, on the course I didn’t think about any score, any number out there, I just tried to be more independent player out there, and after 18 holes I got the score, I’m very satisfied.”

Choi entered the par-5 18th hole tied for the lead with M.J. Hur and was in between clubs when she left her drive in the first cut on the left side. She couldn’t decide whether to bomb it over the pond at the pin situated in the middle of the green or to simply lay it up below the pond and leave a short wedge into the green. Ultimately, she made the right decision and curled in a 45-foot eagle putt to culminate a 8-under-63 and send the crowd into a frenzy.

“I got the 3-wood out first, then changed it to a pitching wedge and then back to 3-wood because there is a small gap to the right side of the green,” Choi said. “But the wind helped me a lot, wind was a little bit helping right to left, so I just hit 3-wood. I mean, I couldn’t hit a 3-wood if today is Sunday, but today’s like Saturday and I feel good about my swing so I just hit it.”

Na Yeon Choi Sets 36 Hole Tournament Record at Walmart NW Arkansas Championship

While Choi was sending the crowd into a frenzy with her eagle-birdie finish, Stacy Lewis was serving as the primer in the group in front of Choi. Lewis, the University of Arkansas product, had a massive group following her all morning and incited almost as many Hog calls on the 17th hole as you’d hear on a fall Saturday at Razorback Stadium when she rolled in her birdie. She followed that up with a birdie at the last as well to the delight of the natives.

The defending champ is just four shots back of Choi at 9-under for the tournament after Saturday’s 65 heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I think that cheer on 17 was louder than 18 last year,” Lewis said. “We’ve got more people out here this year and I love this tournament, I love coming back here, so it never gets old.”

Anna Nordqvist, looking for her second win in 2015, showed a lot of emotion with abig fist pump after she drained a 12 foot birdie putt on her final hole.

“I felt like I hit a lot of good putts today, just couldn’t get some of them to drop and it’s always nice to finish with a birdie. I played really good today, hit my irons really good so I gave myself a lot of chances. It’s just late. Tried to keep my attitude up and keep my patience and my energy up. It was nice to get one on the last, get one shot closer to Na Yeon Choi for tomorrow.”

While Choi was sending the crowd into a frenzy with her eagle-birdie finish, Stacy Lewis was serving as the primer in the group in front of Choi. Lewis, the University of Arkansas product, had a massive group following her all morning and incited almost as many Hog calls on the 17^th hole as you’d hear on a fall Saturday at Razorback Stadium when she rolled in her birdie. She followed that up with a birdie at the last as well to the delight of the natives.

The defending champ is just four shots back of Choi at 9-under for the tournament after Saturday’s 65 heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I think that cheer on 17 was louder than 18 last year,” Lewis said. “We've got more people out here this year and I love this tournament, I love coming back here, so it never gets old.”

Na Yeon Choi Leads Heading Into Final Round at Walmart NW Arkansas Classic Presented by P&G

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