NORTON, Mass. — Miranda Wang left the TPC Boston with a three-shot lead for the second straight day, this time having to beat a three-shot deficit with good placing that led to a 7-under 65 within the FM Championship as she goes after her first LPGA victory.
Wang took solely 24 putts on the rain-softened course and may need been helped by having to play solely 18 holes. Among the Chinese language participant’s challengers confronted for much longer days due to storms that interrupted a lot play the day earlier than.
She holed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th gap to cap off a bogey-free spherical that gave her a three-shot lead over Sei Younger Kim (71) and Rose Zhang (67).
Wang was at 18-under 198.
“That is the place all of the gamers need to be, so it is undoubtedly particular going into the ultimate spherical being the only chief,” Wang mentioned. “That is what we attempt to do each week, so I am simply completely satisfied that I did my job very well. I hope to proceed doing what I did at the moment.”
Kim had a giant scoring runs on each nines Saturday morning when she performed 14 holes to finish her second spherical at 65 to construct a three-shot lead. The afternoon wasn’t so easy, and her lead was gone in three holes.
She did not get out of bunker on the par-5 second gap, resulting in bogey that felt a lot worse. Then, she did not get up-and-down on the par-3 third.
Wang pulled forward for the primary time with a birdie on the sixth, and he or she confirmed what sort of day it might be on the following gap. She fanned her strategy on the par-5 seventh to the correct and off a tree. She pulled her third shot some 60 toes lengthy, after which made it for birdie.
Wang additionally made a 40-foot birdie putt on the 14th gap and ended the day on a streak of 27 consecutive holes with out a bogey.
Key to the week for the previous Duke participant was her again 9 on Thursday. Wang had eight birdies (together with a bogey) for a 29 on the entrance 9, a sign that she felt comfy on the greens.
“Ever since I had actually sizzling again 9 on first spherical my placing has been clicking. I used to be getting velocity and line very well and I made tremendous lengthy putts on No. 7 at the moment, and that gave me much more confidence,” she mentioned. “I do know that I am doing nicely on these greens so when placing I am extra assured and comfy.”
Zhang, who gained her first LPGA occasion as a professional two years in the past, has not had a high 10 in opposition to full area all 12 months as she tried to separate time between taking part in and ending up at Stanford.
“It has been some time since I have been in rivalry, so I am very, very grateful,” Zhang mentioned.
She needed to play 32 holes — 14 within the morning when she had a 64, after which she had 4 birdies in a five-hole stretch across the flip within the afternoon as she tried to maintain tempo with Wang.
“Really feel like I am going to I have been doing at the moment is consuming and consuming water and electrolytes,” Zhang mentioned. “It has been some time since I performed 32 holes. I wanted to grind it out somewhat bit. I wanted to remain targeted. However I felt like I took lots of positives at the moment realizing that I’ve resilience to play constant golf and preserve making an attempt to be higher it.”
Jeeno Thitikul (65) and Andrea Lee (66) had been 4 pictures behind.
Nelly Korda’s seek for her first LPGA victory this 12 months seemingly should wait. She was in vary when she left the course Friday night time, however she may solely handle a 70 within the morning and a 70 within the afternoon. Korda did not birdie any of the 4 par 5s.
She was 9 pictures behind.
Wang, an LPGA rookie, will attempt to lengthen a exceptional streak on the LPGA Tour this 12 months. There have been 22 tournaments, all of them gained by completely different gamers.
