BELLEAIR, Fla. — Allisen Corpuz is closing out a stable rookie 12 months on the LPGA Tour, and now the Hawaii native has an opportunity to make it even higher on the Pelican Ladies’s Championship.
Corpuz made 4 birdies in a six-hole stretch in the course of her second spherical Saturday and had one other 5-under 65, giving her a one-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical of the penultimate LPGA Tour occasion of the 12 months.
Proper behind Corpuz is a bunch of high contenders, making that one-shot lead really feel even smaller.
Maja Stark of Sweden, who starred at Oklahoma State and earned LPGA Tour membership with a co-sanctioned win in Northern Eire this summer time, had eight birdies at Pelican Golf Membership — none on the par 5s — for a 63.
She was one shot behind together with Lexi Thompson (67) and Maria Fassi of Mexico, who adopted her career-best 62 with a hard-earned 69 that left the 24-year-old in place to win for the primary time and qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
Corpuz, twice an All-American whereas at Southern California and a Curtis Cup participant, did not make a bogey till her last gap on the par-3 ninth.
She was at 10-under 130.
The match has been lower quick to 54 holes due to heavy rain from Tropical Storm Nicole that washed out the opening spherical.
The Pelican Ladies’s Championship is the ultimate occasion for the main 60 gamers within the CME Race to the Globe to qualify for the ultimate occasion, which has a $7 million purse with a document $2 million for the winner.
Fassi is at No. 72 and desires a powerful week to advance. She was in a three-way tie for second going into the ultimate spherical, which might be sufficient.
However so many gamers are in competition.
Nelly Korda (66) and Carlota Ciganda (68) had been two photographs out of the lead. Twelve gamers had been separated by 4 photographs going into the ultimate spherical.
“I believe that I’ve to play good golf tomorrow to return out on the high. It would not matter for those who’re taking part in within the final group or a number of behind,” Fassi stated. “I believe for those who submit spherical, that is all actually I can do. I am simply joyful that I am in competition. I am joyful we’re even having this dialog.”
About the one one lacking was Lydia Ko, who performed her last 11 holes in even par and needed to accept a 69. That left her seven photographs behind — with 26 gamers forward of her. Ko might have wrapped up LPGA Participant of the 12 months with a victory.
Now it begins with Corpuz going for her first win in her rookie season.
“Simply had 12 months up to now and form of wish to finish the season on word,” Corpuz stated. “Attempting to place myself in place for tomorrow, and, yeah actually joyful that I could be the place I’m.”
Korda and Thompson have but to win on the LPGA Tour this 12 months — for Thompson, the drought goes again three years. Each received on the Saudi-funded Aramco Staff Collection on the Girls European Tour this 12 months, Korda in Spain, Thompson in New York.
A 12 months in the past, they had been a part of a three-way playoff at Pelican that Korda received with a birdie. Now it is a mixture of main champions and rookies and a dash to the end.
“Expertise helps, however on the similar time, golf is such a loopy sport. Anyone can have their days on the market and produce their A-game,” Thompson stated. “That is what you by no means find out about it. Day-after-day could be completely different. There are such a lot of nice gamers out right here. You must play your top-notch sport each time you tee it up and it’s a must to make birdies and shoot low, particularly if the climate goes to be good.”
