PHOENIX – Spain’s Carlota Ciganda conjured two eagles in a six-under 66 to share the third-round lead with Kim Hyo-joo and Sarah Schmelzel at the LPGA Ford Championship in Arizona on March 30.
In windy conditions that world No. 1 Nelly Korda branded “brutal”, the 33-year-old added three birdies, chipping in for a birdie at the par-five 18th for her share of the lead on 15-under 201.
Kim birdied three of the first four holes, then parred the last 14 for a 69.
Schmelzel, gunning for a first LPGA title in her hometown tournament at Seville Golf and Country Club just outside Phoenix, had four birdies and two bogeys in her 70.
Ciganda, whose two LPGA tournament wins came in 2016, got her round going with an eagle at the par-five fifth and kept climbing with birdies at par-four seventh and 13th. After a bogey at the par-three 14th, she rolled in a 12-foot eagle putt from off the green at the par-four 16th.
“It’s a hole that fits my eye pretty good,” she said of the 16th. “The pin was in the front. I hit a really good shot on Thursday, very similar pin.
“So I was like just trying to hit the same shot. It went perfect, right off the bunker, couple good bounces, and ended up 12 feet just outside the green. I made a very good putt for eagle.”
Ciganda was delighted with a six under on a “very tricky day”.
“The wind is really strong. Lots of side winds. It’s just hard,” said the Spaniard, who lives in the Phoenix area.
On the men’s tour, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is among five players tied for the lead after the third round of the PGA Houston Open on March 30.
Scheffler shot a four-under 66 at Memorial Park Golf Course for nine-under 201 going into the final round. He is joined atop the leaderboard by England’s David Skinns, who shot a bogey-free 65 in his debut at the event, Germany’s Stephan Jaeger (66), Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti (68) and Belgium’s Thomas Detry (67).
Reigning champion Tony Finau, who led after two rounds, shot 72 to fall into a tie for ninth at seven under. He had tied the tournament scoring record for the second time with a 62 on March 29.
“Feel like I played better than my score,” Scheffler said. “I had a few shots I didn’t really get rewarded for, and somewhat punished for some pretty good shots. But overall, yeah, it was nice to finish with those two birdies. Hit a really good shot into 16, good shot into 17.”
Meanwhile, LIV golfers Brooks Koepka of the United States and Tyrrell Hatton of Britain are among several notable players who have asked for their names to be removed from consideration for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, according to multiple reports on March 30.
Both players were unlikely to have made their respective Olympic teams, in part due to LIV Golf’s lack of Official World Golf Ranking accreditation.
Other LIV players who have reportedly asked the International Golf Federation to remove them from consideration are Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and Thomas Pieters of Belgium.
The PGA Tour’s Adam Scott of Australia also reportedly opted out for the third straight opportunity. REUTERS, AFP
