Americans Allisen Corpuz and Angel Yin have charged up the leaderboard to share a one-shot lead after the third round of the first women’s golf major of 2023.
Corpuz and Yin will enter the final round of the Chevron Championship in Texas at 10-under after near-flawless performances on Saturday. Corpuz carded a five-under-par 67 after collecting birdies on four of the first five holes at the Club at Carlton Woods near Houston.
“Been playing really solid these last three days,” the 25-year-old Corpuz said. “I’ve just been trying to tell myself, get more comfortable in contention, just keep learning from every experience.”
Six birdies, and a bogey on the par-5 fourth, earned Yin a 67, though a bit of good old-fashioned luck helped as her tee shot on 12 inexplicably bounced off the water hazard and onto the bank.
“Extremely shocked,” Yin, 24, said. “I thought I was going to get the card for that.”
Neither of the leaders has won on the LPGA Tour before and both are hoping to hoist their first major title on Sunday.
“I know where my game is at,” Yin said. “I know how it’s been performing for the last three days and the game plan for this golf course, and it’s been working well.”
South Korea’s Amy Yang put herself in a strong position with a 65, sharing a three-way tie for third one shot back with American Megan Khang (70) and Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela (68).
Yang has 19 top-10 finishes in the majors and reminded the field why she is a perennial contender with five birdies on the front nine and only a single bogey, on the par-4 11th.
South Korea’s In Gee Chun (69) got the crowd going with an ace on the par-3 17th to earn $US1 million ($A1.5m) for charity from the sponsors.
The second round of the tournament wrapped up early on Saturday after organisers were forced to halt play due to darkness. The start of Friday’s action was delayed two hours due to torrential overnight rain.
A dozen players, including world No 2 Nelly Korda (70) at eight under, will enter the final round within four shots of the lead.
