JENNIFER Kupcho fired an 8-under-par 64 to open a six-shot lead on Saturday in the third round of The Chevron Championship in Rancho Mirage, CA.
Second-round leader Hinako Shibuno of Japan struggled mightily, shooting 77 to fall into a tie for 21Kupcho, who is looking for her first win on the LPGA Tour, shared the lead after Thursday’s first round and was tied for second after 36 holes. But she came out blazing on Saturday, with birdies on eight of her first 12 holes. After her only bogey of the day — on No. 13 — she birdied No. 17 to finish at 64.
Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, the defending champion who also was among the players tied for second beginning the day, fired a 2-under 70 and is alone in second place at 10-under 206. Another stroke back in third is Jessica Korda, who shot 67.“It’s a major so you know the girls up front are going to be nervous, and we’re kind of chasing them down and they know that.
Australia’s Minjee Lee shot 73 for the second straight day to tumble to 4 under for the tournament and tied for 21Faring even worse was second-round leader Shibuno. Her struggles included two double-bogeys and two bogeys in a span of eight holes, and the round included two birdies.