New York (AFP) – Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul fired a two-under-par 70 to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the LPGA Tour’s Mizuho Americas Open on Saturday. The world number two from Thailand, who had opened up a three-shot cushion after Friday’s second round, recovered from an early bogey to rattle in three birdies at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey.
With Saturday’s third round tee-times brought forward due to the forecast of poor weather, Jeeno saw her lead evaporate after her early bogey and a blistering start from Australia’s Hannah Green, who was five-under for the round after her first eight holes. But Jeeno steadied the ship, and as Green faded down the stretch with two bogeys on the back nine, the Thai star is now in position to retain her title after finishing the day on 10 under.
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Jeeno, though, said she is not getting ahead of herself as she looks to Sunday’s final round. “It’s just golf – just another day, another tournament,” she said. “Another 18 holes tomorrow. It’s a new day and I don’t know what’s going to happen, just going to let golf be golf and then just go with the flow,” she said.
France’s Celine Boutier is Jeeno’s nearest challenger. The 32-year-old from suburban Paris shot a five-under-par 67 to finish the day on eight under. After a bogey on the first, Boutier reeled off six birdies and 11 pars to put herself in contention.
South Korea’s Choi Hye-jin is alone in third on seven-under after a six-under-par 66, one shot clear of China’s Yin Ruoning, Australia’s Green, and Allisen Corpuz of the United States, who are tied for fourth on six under. Corpuz was one of three players to take advantage of calmer winds and soft conditions to card a six-under-par 66. “Hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, and then was lucky to make a few putts,” Corpuz said. “The wind was a lot less than it has been the last two days, and I just felt like a few of the pins fit my eye a little better.”
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