(Photo credit score: Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Images)
Jeeno Thitikul ended the third spherical of the Honda LPGA Thailand with a flourish on Saturday, recording birdies on the ultimate three holes to seize a two-stroke lead.
The World No. 1, enjoying in entrance a cheering home-country crowd, combined seven birdies and a bogey to complete with a 66 and transfer to a 20-under196 for the match.
‘I feel [the] driver has been actually good for the previous few days,’ mentioned Thitikul, who opened with rounds of 67 and 63 on the Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya.’Keep gaining confidence.
‘And additionally the irons-wise, higher than I anticipated, and likewise I feel I rolling the putts form of properly this previous three days as properly.’
Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea stands second on the leaderboard after her spherical of 65 moved her to 18-under for the match. She carded 9 birdies, together with three on the ultimate 4 holes, to offset her two bogeys on the spherical.
At 17-under and three strokes again are Allisen Corpuz (67 on Saturday), Chizzy Iwai of Japan (68) and second-round chief Somi Lee (72) of South Korea.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who has 23 LPGA Tour wins, is one other shot again at 16-under after her spherical of 69.
Thitikul, who turned 23 on Friday, may have an edge on Sunday with a big crowd firmly on her facet.
‘Every time I come to Honda, it is all the time getting greater, greater — all of the followers,’ she mentioned. Yeah, immediately, Saturday, all the youngsters come off from faculty and likewise all of the dad and mom and everybody off from the work. They simply got here a protracted technique to watch us play.
‘It’s actually motivating and galvanizing that I actually wish to play good in entrance of them.’
And there’s one fan she particularly needs to please: her mom, who hardly ever watches her play in individual.
‘My mother would not come for the entire yr. This is barely like occasion that she going to got here out and watch me play, so it is imply so much to me,’ she mentioned. ‘You know, like my mother isn’t actually popping out, so enjoying in entrance of her after which I feel if she noticed so many individuals cheering for me and grabbing for me she can be so proud.’
Corpuz, a Hawaii native, is looking for a second profession victory. She gained the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach and is ready to problem Thitikul and the remainder of the leaderboard.
‘I’m actually not a leaderboard checker however I really like simply being in competition and having the chance it throw up a pleasant Sunday spherical,’ Corpuz mentioned. ‘I’m actually excited for it.’
–Field Level Media