Three Americans remain in contention after the third round of the 2022 Chevron Championship. Jennifer Kupcho leads the pack at 16 under with Jessica Korda and Annie Park chasing ahead of the tournament's final day. Defending champion Patty Tavatankit sits in solo second.
An American hasn't won the title since Brittney Lincicome in 2015. Amy Alcott said she's always rooting for her US counterparts, but she doesn't have a favorite, and there's more talent in this year’s field than ever before. "I like watching Leona Maguire, Patty Tavatanakit is doing really well, and Jennifer Kupcho is putting consistently," Alcott said.
The famous winners' jump into Poppie’s Pond at Mission Hills was started after Alcott's triumph in 1988 when the event was known as the Nabisco Dinah Shore Championship. Although the leap didn't immediately spark a tradition — Juli Inkster and Betsy King refrained from jumping after their wins in 1989 and 1990 — Alcott said that she didn't expect anyone else to follow in her footsteps. It was just a moment of pure excitement. But, when Donna Andrews won in 1994, she jumped in Dinah Shore’s honor.
Since then, winners of the major have individualized their celebratory leaps into the pond, showcasing the emotions that come from capturing the title. Alcott said if she could jump in again, she would do a swan dive by herself, or with her beloved dog named Joe.
All eyes are on Rolex Rankings No. 53 Jennifer Kupcho, who leads the pack by six strokes and has a chance to make the last splash. She tied her career-low round on the LPGA today with an 8 under 64, giving herself the opportunity to earn her first major victory tomorrow, put on the commemorative robe, and jump for joy. "Everything was working [today]. Seriously, this week, I think my putting is definitely the props," Kupcho said.
Friend and rival Patty Tavatanakit will be chasing Kupcho in hopes of making history twice, as the last victor and the first player to win this championship in back-to-back years since it was recognized as a major in 1983.
Sitting in solo third, Jessica Korda said her strategy is to be aggressive since the greens are getting crustier. She's optimistic about her ranking and is going into tomorrow with confidence, having finished in the top-10 twice at Mission Hills. "You always have to think that you have a chance no matter, and that's kind of the mentality you've got to go out there with," Korda said.
In fourth place, Annie Park said she's going to attack the final day and that it's all or nothing for her tomorrow. "Overall my personality is pretty laid back, but I definitely have a different side to me. So I’m going to attack pins tomorrow,” Park said.
2014 champion and Palm Springs favorite Lexi Thompson said it's a blessing to be here regardless of where she finishes. "Score-wise, obviously, I have to shoot like lights out, but honestly, I'm just enjoying every step of being it the last round out here," Thompson said.
As the 51st and final round comes to a close tomorrow, one more player will make the historic jump into Poppie’s Pond and join the Dinah Shore Wall of Champions. When asked what it would take to win the last Chevron Championship in Palm Springs, three-time winner Amy Alcott said, "I have no idea." And neither do we.
)
)
)
)
