Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen fired a bogey-free 66 on Saturday to take the lead at the 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand, also setting the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record.
Madsen stands at 21-under par overall, besting the previous mark of 20 under set by Jessica Korda in 2018. The 195 after three rounds also shattered Madsen’s previous best of 203.
She will be playing for her first-ever LPGA Tour win on Sunday. She’d also become the first Danish woman to win on the tour.
“It would be amazing winning a first LPGA event,” Koerstz Madsen said. “That’s what I play for, so that would be just awesome.”
China’s Xiyu Lin and France’s Celine Boutier are tied for second, one stroke behind the leader at 20 under. Lin shot a 66 and Boutier a 67, enduring a 90-minute lightning delay on a hot and sticky day in the low 90s at the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club in Chonburi.
Lin also is looking for her first LPGA Tour win. Her bogey-free round Saturday included consecutive birdies at holes 12-15.
“Front nine was pretty average, and then back nine I was just like keep telling myself to be patient, it’s going to come,” Lin said. “It was a good little row, like four birdies in a row, and then also nice to finish with another birdie. So I think I put myself in a really good position for (Sunday).”
Gaby Lopez of Mexico, Nasa Hataoka of Japan and Canadian Brooke Henderson are tied for fourth place at 18 under, with Americans Alison Lee and Jennifer Kupcho a shot back.
Australian Minjee Lee and American Lucy Li stand at 16 under to conclude the top 10.
Madsen also led after 54 holes last year at the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie and was tied on No. 18 on Sunday, but she double bogeyed the final hole and plummeted to fifth place.
She’ll need to repeat Saturday’s strong play in the final round to get her first win.
“I’m happy with the round. I didn’t make that many mistakes. Hit a lot of greens,” she said. “Would have liked to make a couple more putts or at least get it to the hole, but I’m happy with the round overall.”
–Field Level Media