Lilia Vu had never held the lead or co-lead heading into the final day on the LPGA Tour before but a 69 on Saturday was enough to keep the co-lead at 13-under.
“This course demands a lot off the tee, and I just wasn’t feeling good (at the beginning). I told you yesterday that I don’t really look at the scores, but you’re right there in the leading group, so you can’t help but look,” said Vu. “I’m just going to go out there and have a good time and let the golf do what it will do. I think the advantage is off the tee. If you get in the fairway, you set yourself a good approach shot, you’ll have a good chance at birdie most of the time.”
Tied alongside the American are compatriot Andrea Lee and Japan’s Ayaka Furue who both shot 67s on Saturday.
“It’s very important to play bogey-free golf,” said Furue. “I believe it’s more important than getting birdies, not having bogeys. So, I’m very happy with that today.”
Lee has made birdie on at least one of the four par-5s in every round, and has favored the reachable par-5 5th in the last two rounds.
“I think this week so far I’ve been playing the front nine pretty well. Just birdieing one of the par-5s each day. I think the par-5s, you definitely need to take advantage of those to go low,” said Lee. “I love the golf course. I’m not like the longest player on tour, so I think it’s one of the shorter courses we play out here. I think that’s definitely played to my strengths.”
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno (66), Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea (68), South Africa’s Paula Reto (67) and Australia’s Hannah Green (68), the 2019 champion, are tied in fourth place at 12-under.
“I made a good putt on the third hole,” said Green. Probably like a 25-footer. I remember in 2019 a very similar putt to the same pin, so I kind of knew which way it broke. I do try to (think back to 2019), because a lot of things went my way and went well obviously to win. So I think just making sure I don’t get too ahead of myself but remember what I have achieved at this golf course.”
