Lizette Salas takes a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Indy Women in Tech Championship Driven by Group 1001. Salas leads Republic of Korea’s Amy Yang and Sung Hyun Park after shooting an 8-under, 64, in the third round at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course.
Salas has been playing lights out this week and admits to having no idea of the keys to her success this week.
“Playing with a top world ranked player, Sung Hyun, I knew I had to bring my A-game. And I was in the groove from the get-go. I had a great mentality going in. I have been striking the ball really well. And I just had to stay patient,” said Salas. “And yeah, putts dropped, for sure. And be aggressive throughout the whole day. And I just really felt comfortable. I like the golf course. I like the way I’ve been playing, so I felt really good.”
A top-5 finish a year ago should be a clear indication that Salas likes they layout at the Brickyard Crossing Golf, but what is it that Salas likes?
“I mean, from the greens to how the tee boxes are aiming a certain way on the fairway, I think it favors my draw a little bit. So, from eyesight, I think I like it from the get-go,” explained Salas. “I don't know, just everything from the -- the fans are great, the course is in good condition considering it rained so much yesterday. So, yeah, hopefully, it will be good to me tomorrow.”
It’s been a few years since Salas won on the LPGA Tour, but holding the lead heading to the final round gives her an added boost of confidence, but she’s not taking anything for granted.
“Yeah. That was so long ago. It's been knocking on the door quite a bit in the last four years, and I haven't been able to get it done,” said Salas. “But I have been so confident this whole year. I have a different mentality; I'm a different player. So, I'm just going to go out there and play as if I'm behind. Two shots are practically nothing. So, I've got good players behind me and just got to play my game.”
Thompson In Contention
Lexi Thompson had the round of the day, a bogey-free 8-under, 64 despite a 1-stroke penalty on the 10th hole.
The defending champion said it felt good and she got off to a good start.
“I started off with a birdie, and just overall struck it very well, and kind of figured out my putting,” Thompson explained. “This morning I hit it really close for the nine holes that I played, just didn't make anything. And then it kind of just clicked in my next warm-up. Probably helped that I putted in the sunlight and not in the dark this morning.”
Thompson handled the pressure of playing 27 holes with poise but admits to having a few “tired swings towards the end” of the day.
“But overall, a lot of positives. I hit it great; I made some really good putts.”
Thompson sits five-shots back but in a good position heading into the final round of the Indy Women in Tech Championship Driven by Group 1001.
“I'm really looking forward to tomorrow,” said Thompson. “Hopefully just go into it and hit it the same way I did these last few days, and still, have a few of those -- more putts drop, so we'll see where it goes.”
A Career Week for Do
Brianna Do is having the best season of her career and undoubtedly the best week of that career and in a good position to post her highest finish on the LPGA Tour.
“Honestly, I have been having a pretty good season, hitting it really well every week, just trying to get putts to drop,” admits Do. “And they seem to be dropping this week. So getting it all put together.”
Do said she hasn’t been working on anything, in particular, this season, she is “grinding it out.”
“I mean, putting is so, like, small. And it's like, okay, you're going to miss a lot of putts, but when they start going in, they're all going to go in, so kind of at that point. I have been working hard on my putting, and they are starting to drop, so yeah.”
Do sits T9 heading into the final round and plans to take it same as she has the past three days.
“I mean, I got to play with one of my really good friends the first two days, Caroline Inglis, and that was a lot of fun, and it got me real comfortable on this course real fast for tournament play,” said Do. “And then today, I've just kind of plugged along, hit a lot of good shots, made some putts, and I'm excited for tomorrow. So I have a lot to look forward to.”
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