BELLEAIR, Fla. — Weiwei Zhang needed a solid week at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican if she wanted to maintain full status for the 2025 LPGA Tour season, and after Moving Day at Pelican Golf Club, the People’s Republic of China native is on her way to meeting that goal with one round to play in Belleair, Fla.

Zhang carded the lowest 18-hole score of the tournament in the third round, firing an 8-under 62 that saw the 27-year-old make one bogey and nine birdies, four of which came consecutively on holes five through eight and three of which she made in a row on holes 14, 15 and 16. The 62 is Zhang’s new career-low round on the LPGA Tour, besting her previous benchmark of 66 by four shots, and it’s just the second round of 66 or better that she has posted on Tour this season.

“I just felt it's amazing day today,” said Zhang. “I can't say anything. I don't know how to play that well today. Just keep patient and like normal, and then I hole a lot of putt. That's made me so surprised on some hole.”

Zhang entered the week at 106th in the Race to the CME Globe, six spots outside of the top 100 on the season-long points list, which would guarantee her full LPGA Tour status in 2025. She had to have a top finish at The ANNIKA if she wanted to move up in the rankings and not have to play Final Qualifying in a few weeks in Alabama.

But after her Saturday 62, not only is she projected to move well inside the top 100, Zhang now also has a shot at earning her first career LPGA Tour victory on Sunday in Belleair, Fla., a win that might see her qualify for her first CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburón Golf Club, something that wasn’t even on her radar entering this week.

“I don't think too much because I'm very happy I'm here today,” said Zhang, who is an Epson Tour alum. “I don't want to think that long. I want to keep patient and just focus on my game. That's it. I don't want to think about next week or win the tournament. Just focus my game, and I'm so happy today.”

Sitting in a tie for second at 11-under after the third round, Zhang will be playing in the final group for the first time in her LPGA Tour career on Sunday at The ANNIKA, doing so alongside Rolex Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda and two-time LPGA Tour winner Charley Hull.

While it’s sure to be a bit of a nerve-wracking experience for Zhang, considering it’s something that she has never experienced before at this level, she’ll be able to lean on confidence derived from her 8-under performance on day three, knowing that she has the capability to conquer Pelican Golf Club with all its challenges as she works to maintain her position at the top of the leaderboard and maybe even become the year’s fourth Rolex First-Time Winner.

Weiwei Zhang Zips Up Leaderboard and Into Contention After Carding Low Round of the Week at The ANNIKA

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