Rookie Miranda Wang of China moved closer to her first LPGA Tour victory on Saturday by taking a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the FM Championship in Norton, Mass.
Wang carded a bogey-free, 7-under-par 65 to move to 18 under at the rain-softened TPC Boston course. She needed only 24 putts and birdied Nos. 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14 and 18 in extending her bogey-free streak to 27 holes this week.
“This is where like all the players want to be, so it’s definitely special going into the final round being the sole leader,” Wang said. “This is what we try to do every week, so I’m just happy that I did my job really well. I hope to continue doing what I did today.”
The 26-year-old Duke University graduate finished Friday as the two-stroke leader in the clubhouse, but half the field had not completed the second round because of delays for dangerous weather conditions that led to suspended play due to darkness.
Wang’s highlights on Saturday included re-taking the lead with her birdie at No. 6, then sinking a 60-foot birdie at the par-5 No. 7 and a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-4 No. 14.
“So ever since I had really hot back nine on first round, my putting has been clicking,” Wang said, referencing eight birdies (and one bogey) on the back nine on Thursday. “I was getting speed and line really well and I made super long putts on No. 7 today, and that gave me even more confidence.
“I know that I’m doing well on these greens so when putting I’m more confident and comfortable.”
American Rose Zhang and South Korea’s Sei Young Kim are tied for second through three rounds at 15-under 201. Kim and Zhang had to pick up their second rounds after four holes on Friday and played a total of 32 holes on Saturday.
“Feel like all I’ve been doing today is eating and drinking water and electrolytes,” Zhang said. “I feel like that’s kind of how I realized and managed just my energy levels throughout the day.
“But it’s been a while since I played 32 holes,” she continued. “I think … I needed to grind it out a little bit. I needed to stay focused. But I felt like I took a lot of positives today knowing that I have resilience to play consistent golf and keep trying to be better it.”
Zhang countered a bogey at the par-3 No. 3 with a birdie at the par-4 No. 6 and more birdies at Nos. 9, 10, 12, 13 and 18 for a 67.
Kim finished her second round with a 65 and temporarily held a three-stroke lead. But Kim recorded a 1-under 71 in the third round that got off to a rocky start with bogeys at Nos. 2 and 3, with a birdie at No. 7 and another bogey at No. 9 for a 2-over 38 on the front nine. She posted birdies at Nos. 12, 16 and 18 for a 3-under 33 on the back nine.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand sizzled with a 7-under 65 on Saturday, needing just 25 putts. She is tied for fourth at 14 under with Andrea Lee (66). Thitikul carded eight birdies and one bogey, the latter coming at the par-4 No. 13.
“I know like I can’t control anything else more than myself, more than my swing and then more than my stroke,” Thitikul said. “I trying to do it perfectly but as golf, it’s not going to be turn out to be perfect as always. 18 holes, you definitely going to make a mistake.
“But I was just think like simple golf is the best that I can do. If I can do simple golf, that’s when I play my best.”
World No. 2 Nelly Korda shot her second consecutive round of 70 and is tied for 13th at 9 under.
Defending champion Haeran Ryu of South Korea is tied for 23rd at 7 under after her 71 on Saturday.
