Cavan’s Leona Maguire posted her first under par round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai tournament as the 30-year-old went three-under-par in round three.
After back-to-back rounds of 72 on Thursday and Friday at Qizhong Garden Golf Club course, Maguire found some rhythm on Saturday as she exploded out of the blocks, starting her day on the back nine with four birdies.
Maguire’s momentum slowed on the back nine, as the two-time LPGA winner could not seem to capitalise on strong positions – making two bogeys before closing out her round with a textbook birdie on the par-4 ninth, to see Maguire head into the final round in a tie for 50th.
After a record-breaking round on Saturday, Japan’s Minami Katsu followed up her 61 with a four-under 68 on Saturday to hold a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the LPGA Shanghai tournament.
After 54 holes, Katsu sits at 17-under, with Australia’s Minjee Lee and world no.1 Jeeno Thitikul sharing second place at 15-under.
Minjee Lee, who won her third major title at the Women’s PGA Championship in June, shot 65 on Saturday, including a birdie on her last hole.
Lee began her round with a bogey and three pars.
“I had a little bit of a slow start, so it’s nice to reel off some birdies in the middle there and end up with a nice score to be contending for tomorrow,” Lee said.
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, posted a bogey-free six-under-par as she looks to be the first player to win twice on the LPGA Tour this season.
Tied for fourth are South Korea’s Somi Lee and USA’s Jenny Bae at 14-under, with six golfers in a tie for sixth just behind at 12-under.
Leave a comment