Aug 26, 2018: Sung Hyun Park knows what it takes to win, and she’s been doing it so frequently it’s become routine. Aditi Ashok shot two over 74 for the second day running to reach the final round in T59. At one under through 54 holes, Aditi will hope for a low round on Sunday to try and force her way up the order.
Park, the defending CP Women’s Open champion, heads into Sunday just two shots back of the lead held by Canada’s Brooke Henderson and alone in fourth.
Although Henderson is stealing the spotlight in her home country this week, there is a large group of followers looking to spoil the party.
Park was tied for the lead with Henderson for most of Saturday’s third round before making two late bogeys.
A three-time winner already this year, Park made six birdies Saturday. She shot a 2-under-par 70 after matching the course record with an 8-under-par 64 in the second round.
“I thought the round was okay,” said Park. “I had a couple bogeys, so that was pretty disappointing, and a couple misses on pars. But I still have one day, so I’m going to focus on that.”
Park said the weather Saturday was cold in the morning, which made it tough. It warmed up on the back nine, and so did Park’s score.
She tied for the lead before bogeying the par-5 14th. She tried hitting a driver off the fairway and ended up in the hazard.
She bounced back with a birdie on the par-3 15th, but bogeyed the par-4 16th.
Park was named the new world no.1 in the Rolex Rankings earlier this week after her win at the Indy Women in Tech Championship. She’s looking for her fourth win of the year Sunday and said she’s in a good position going into Sunday.
“I’m just going to take it shot by shot, and I still have one day left. I think just focusing on that is going to be most important,” she said.
“I don’t really feel nerves or anything. I feel like I shot really great in rounds one through three, so I’m in a comfortable position.”
Nasa Hataoka will be grouped with Henderson in Sunday’s final threesome with Angel Yin. Hataoka was nearly tied with Henderson at 14-under, but made a bogey on her final hole of the day after hitting her approach against the grandstand on the par-4 18th.
She had made five birdies on the back nine to that point.
Hataoka has seven top-10 finishes on the season, including a win at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in June.
She’s looking forward to having a chance at another victory on Sunday.
“I’m playing better day by day, so I want to go out there with that confidence,” she said.
LPGA Tour Release
