Xiyu Lin of China took a one-shot lead in The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America after carding a 6-under 65 on Thursday. She made five birdies and an eagle at the par-5 17th but was especially pleased with her par saves.
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“This course, it’s not easy to hit it close, so you need to roll some putts in. You probably have some tough par save, too. Like 18th hole I barely save par, and also 14. I actually hit two really good drive, especially 14, but it just trickle down. The fairway is super firm so trickle down in the bunker and I couldn’t quite get a stand there. The bunker on the fairways are tough.”
Lin hasn’t missed a cut in twenty events and hasn’t finished outside of the top-50 this season.
Last week’s winner Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and American Lizette Salas share second place at 5-under.
“The course is pretty different than last week,” said Thitikul. “It’s a big change. Pretty firm and, you know, like every hole it’s run-out and, the green, it’s tricky as well. But, yeah, pretty good today. I mean, like I had a good game. Hitting pretty good. Get myself a lot of chance to make a birdie.”
Atthaya Thitikul's plan for success?
Keep it simple. ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/ejdGZT3Kc0
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Salas, playing in her eighth Ascendant LPGA this week, was the only bogey-free player in the top three.
“I made a really good par on the first hole, left-to-right breaker. I think when I start making those left-to-right putts my confidence level just rises,” she said. “My birdie putts weren’t close either. I think the only close one was 11 on the par-3. Just, really, short game is on point. I made it boring reading the putts really well and, again, going off the momentum from last week and applying that to this week.”
