Leona Maguire lost the solo lead as a difficult back nine saw her eventually fall six shots off the pace and sign for a round of 72 at the CPKC Women’s Open.
Maguire began her third round two shots off the halfway lead but a birdie on the fourth saw her claim a six-way share of the lead on seven-under.
After a birdie, bogey, birdie run from the sixth, the Cavan star made the turn with the solo lead on eight-under-par but dropped shots on 11, 15 and 18 have left her with lots of work to do to make a comeback from five-under.
Canadian star Brooke Henderson holed out for eagle from a greenside bunker on the short par-4 17th to the delight of her large partisan gallery and shot a 6-under 65 on Saturday for a share of the lead with Minjee Lee.
The 2018 champion at Wascana in Saskatchewan, Henderson had the eagle, six birdies and two bogeys in breezy and cloudy conditions at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. She won the last of her 13 LPGA Tour titles in January 2023.
“It’s always been a really special week,” Henderson said. “I feel like I’ve learned so much every single year playing in it. I was just trying to lean back on some times when I’ve had a lot of success here, what I did and the mentality I had going into it.”
Lee shot a 65 to match Henderson at 11-under 202. The Australian player chipped in for birdie on the par-4 eighth, made a long eagle putt on the par-5 12th. She ran in an 8-footer for another eagle on the 17th, then chipped in again to save par on the par-4 18th.
“I would say those two (eagles) are my highlights and, obviously, the chip-in on the last,” Lee said. “There are no pictures on the scorecard.”
Lee won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June in Texas for her third major title and 11th LPGA Tour title. She’s No. 4 in the world.
“I think I it will just be extra exciting being in the final group with Brooke,” Lee said.
Henderson, from Smith Falls, Ontario, overcame a slow start Thursday. She played the first 11 holes on the tree-lined layout in 3 over, then fought back for an even-par 71, and had a shot 66 on Friday.
“It’s just so exciting to be playing here this week,” Henderson said. “The crowds been phenomenal. Just so happy to be playing at home and hopefully just one more good day.”
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