It was moving day in Saturday’s third round of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club as USA’s Yealimi Noh secured 54-hole top spot thanks to a two-under-par round to take her to seven-under at the final major of the season.
The windy links course has been playing difficult and that was no difference on Saturday. Noh struggled on the front nine, making three bogeys and two birdies to take the turn at one-over. Noh started well on the back nine, making back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 before adding her final one at the par-4 16th.
“I had a little bit of a rough start a couple bogeys on the front nine. Actually a chip-in par save on the second, which was nice. I just fell out of tempo a little bit and then got it together for the back nine, and it was really solid. Had some good par saves,” said Noh.
“I’m optimistic but also, I don’t know, golf is just crazy. It’s been making me realize it more and more. It only takes one round for your whole mindset and whole game to change,” she added.
Germany’s Esther Henseleit climbed 18 places on Saturday as the 27-year-old posted a four-under-par 67. Henseleit made four birdies on the front, before trading a birdie for a bogey on the back nine. Henseleit sits at four-under heading into the final round.
“Very good again. Very solid. Didn’t really get in too much trouble which is kind of the key to this golf course. I managed to hole some good putts today, so, yeah, very happy with my result,” said the German with a smile.
“I mean, you just have to keep going. There are so many good golfers out here. You know that it’s not going to be enough that if you make one or two birdies. You just have to keep going.”
“I would say the first nine holes are probably the easier ones, so I kind of want to take advantage of that, take advantage of the par-5s and the shorter holes,” she added.
There is a four other players tied with Henseleit at four-under, among them is 36-hole leader Haeran Ryu. The Korean struggled on Saturday, posting a three-over-par round to drop out down from the lead. Ryu has already won two majors this year.
Lottie Woad has given herself a fighting chance to earn her first major win as she sits in seventh, four strokes off the lead at three-under-par.
“Like I know I can play well in this tournament and I have done the last two years and had that experience, you know, being in the mix. And even this year obviously a few weeks ago I was leading at Evian, so kind of could use that experience as well,” said Woad. “I think I’ve now been out here a year and played enough events and experienced being in those final groups that it feels enough experience to me.”
Charley Hull sits one back from Woad at two-under. After a topsy turvy front nine, Hull regrouped and posted her second even-par round of the week.
“I just want to go out there and enjoy it tomorrow. Not put much pressure on myself. Just go out there and have fun and trust my swing,” said Hull.
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