Megan Khang carded her third consecutive round of 66 to reach 18-under and take the 54-hole lead at the Portland Classic.
The American also held the 54-hole lead at last week’s CPKC Women’s Open, where she earned her first LPGA Tour career victory in a playoff. If she can repeat her performance, Khang would be the fourth LPGA Tour player since 1992 to earn her first career win and then earn her second victory the following week, and the first since Ariya Jutanugarn did so in 2016.
“My dad always told me that you can only control what you can control. Don’t really get too preoccupied with what everyone else is doing. At the end of the day you can’t control what they’re doing, so just stay in your own little world, do your own little thing, and try your best to take care of every little thing that you can make better for yourself instead of stress out about what other people are doing,” said Khang. “I saw a 10-under today, so it’s definitely out there. You know, it’s no guarantee tomorrow what’s going to happen, so a lot of great players behind me. Just going to try to stay in my own little world.”
On 17, Khang said she realized she was tied for the lead at 17-under and walked onto the 18th tee hoping to take the solo spot on top. She did, thanks to a solid approach and even more solid putting stroke on the 18th green, sinking a 16-foot putt for one final birdie on the day.
“Overall I had such a good feeling with my putter today. Was such a solid stroke. I missed a few shorter ones… at the beginning of my round, and they were lipping out and I was just kind of getting a little frustrated,” said Khang. “But honestly, on the back nine I had a couple lip in and I was like, wow, I thought I missed it for sure and I got very fortunate to get the opposite and have it lip in. So for me, it’s just kind of like I was really happy the way I was stroking it today and I’m really hoping I can carry that into tomorrow.”
Related: Megan Khang wins first LPGA Tour title in playoff
LPGA Tour rookies Hyo Joon Jang of South Korea and Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand sit in a tie for second at 17-under after both closed with new career-best rounds.
Jang carded a 10-under 62 highlighted by eleven birdies, which ties the LPGA Tour record for the second-most birdies in one round (Annika Sorenstam holds the record at 13 birdies in a single round). Jang, who recently underwent back surgery and has suffered from the lingering injury this season, had only recorded one round in the 60s this year before shooting three consecutive sub-70 rounds in Portland.
“Let’s say speechless,” said Jang when asked to describe her round. “Still I am going through a lot of things and there is a lot coming, so I won’t say it’s (the) end, but it’s something that going to be meaningful for my stepstone… I wasn’t playing much this year but I’m going to play more, so I’m more excited in the future.”
Wannasaen has also struggled during her rookie season, having missed all but two cuts in her eleven starts this year. She shot a career-low round of 66 on Friday before besting it with a 7-under 65 on Saturday. She is currently not exempt into next week’s Kroger Queen City Championship but a top-10 finish in Portland would earn her a spot in the field.
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda sits alone in fourth place at 15-under after recording a 66, followed by four players in a tie for fifth.
Overnight leader Perrine Delacour of France slipped into T16 at 11-under after carding a 75.
