Amy Yang fired a 5-under 67 on Saturday to match the scorecards she posted on Thursday and Friday to forge a single-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Meijer LPGA Classic at Belmont, Mich.
Yang, 33, has misfired for just four bogeys over three days — including none on Friday — against 19 birdies at Blythefield Country Club, allowing the South Korean to build her slight advantage over three golfers tied for second at 14 under.
“I mean, all day — all week my ball striking has been really good, so I was giving myself good chances out there,” said Yang, who is at 15-under 201.
She is in pursuit of her second Top 10 finish of the season and fifth career victory. Three of her previous championships came in Thailand, though she is still in pursuit of her first major.
“I know KPMG is coming and another two weeks after that U.S. Open is coming,” Yang said. “Always doing my best to win my first major out there. If I play good this week it’ll definitely give me good confidence going into a major, and just going to try it.”
Friday leader Ayake Furue is tied for second after a 3-under 69 Saturday. The Japan native scored bogeys on 13, 16 and 17.
“I’m not satisfied with my shots and putt as well on the back nine,” Furue said. “I did get the three bogeys today, and if I did get bogeys today, I feel like I should not have to get any bogeys tomorrow.”
Also tied for second are South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and China’s Xiyu Lin, who notched matching 6-under 66’s on Saturday.
Buhai ended her day with a flourish, knocking in an eagle on the par-5, No. 18 to cap a five-birdie day.
Lin’s day featured no missteps scoring wise, with six birdies juxtaposed against zero bogeys, a welcome performance following a forced break due to COVID-19.
“Last week I was really itching to play; that’s one of the biggest things, too,” Lin said. “And plus I really love this course. I just think this course suits my game really, really well.”
In fifth at 13 under are Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand (66), Ireland’s Leona Maguire (69) and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea (69).
Jutanugarn scored an eagle on the par-5, No. 14.
Rounding out the Top 10 are three golfers tied for eighth: Belgium’s Manon De Roey, Lindsey Weaver-Wright and Jennifer Kupcho, who all shot 69 and are at 12 under.
–Field Level Media