LPGA Tour Championship 2021 R3
November 18-21
Tiburón Golf Club, Naples, Florida
$5,000,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda took a share of the lead of the CME Group Tour Championship at 14-under on Saturday. She produced five birdies, two bogeys and an eagle at the par-5 17th for a 67.

LPGA Tour Championship 2021 R3

“I struck my driver really well and then I just had like 145 over the bunker and I hit like a little controlled 9-iron,” said the American of her eagle. “It was so downwind and I hit it perfectly."

LPGA Tour Championship 2021 R3

Overnight leader Céline Boutier, retains a share of the lead with two birdies and two eagles for a 72. A win on Sunday would make her the most successful Franchwoman in LPGA Tour history.

“Even though I've been in this position before I've only won twice on Tour, and there are so many good players in the stretch. So I just feel like I just, again, have to keep focusing on my game and try to get as confident as I can in my putting tomorrow and see what happens.”

LPGA Tour Championship 2021 R3

Rolex Rankings No.2 and defending champion Jin Young Ko of South Korean fired a 66 to reach 14-under, starting her round with a run of seven birdies and a bogey from the 2nd hole before parring the rest of her round.

LPGA Tour Championship 2021 R3

Japan's Nasa Hataoka completes the leading group having played a bogey-free 64 including four consecutive birdies to close her round.

“I was feeling I can make every putt on front nine. I had great round, but I had a lot of good shot, good putt on front nine, but I had a lot of miss shot for back nine,” said Ko. “But it's pretty good, and I shooting better than yesterday, so it was fine.”

Mexico's Gaby Lopez (69) lies one shot back tied in second place alongside American Mina Harigae (69).

LPGA Tour Championship 2021 R3

Lopez was tied for the lead through the 15th but double bogeyed the par-3 16th before closing with an eagle at the par-5 17th and a bogey at the 18th.

“I had just terrible swing on 16 and that got me in trouble. I took a double bogey out of there, and I was still calm after that. I know I was hitting the right shots and I was playing the way I wanted. I came to 17 and I hit a beautiful drive, beautiful 5-iron, and it happened to go in,” said Lopez. “You know, I tried to stay calm all day long. I tried to stay calm throughout the tournament. Sometimes when I bring this emotion I just can't stop it.”

“I feel that I dragged it into 18. It was hard to keep it together. But at the same time, it's something that I love from my game, something I embrace so much. I'm sure that I'm going to learn from it. I know I'm going to have the discipline next time to calm down. But it's exciting. I love this position. I love to see myself grow.”

Ireland's Leona Maguire shot a bogey-free 66 for a share of seventh place at 12-under alongside Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen (67) and American Lexi Thompson (68).

LPGA Tour Championship 2021 R3