Lauren Walsh is safely through to the final round of the LPGA’s NW Arkansas Championship after firing a three-under 68 that was just enough earn another tee time on Sunday.
The Kildare woman began the day at one-under having eagled her final hole in Friday’s first round to get into red figures, and she carried that momentum into round two where she made four birdies in her first six holes to make a big move up the leaderboard.
She remained four-under for the round at the turn, but couldn’t build on it, making two bogeys and one birdie over the final nine to get into the clubhouse at -4 overall and just above the projected cutline.
Ultimately, it was just enough for her to earn a final-round tee time and an opportunity to build on her CME Globe ranking where she came into the week 86th and with just six events remaining to break into the top 60 who will contest the season-ending CME Globe Championship.
Stephanie Meadow began the day best placed of the trio at -2, but a two-over 73 left her outside the mark at level-par, while Leona Maguire struggled to a four-over 75 that left her on +3 overall.
Yuna Nishimura, seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, carded a second consecutive eight-under-par 63 to reach 16-under through 36 holes. She made her first bogey of the weekend but more than offset it with nine birdies. Nishimura had led by one after an opening 63 on Friday, and now leads by five over American Auston Kim and Chinese pair Mary Liu and Michelle Zhang who each shot 64s having opened with 67s.
“My short irons were working really well, so I was able to put it close to the pin and kind of all worked out for me,” Nishimura said through a translator following her round.
Lauren Coughlin was on 59 watch after going out in 26 and making nine straight birdies, but though she remained bogey-free on the back nine, she could only add one further birdie and her 10-under 61 leaves her tied for 21st at -8.
Leave a comment