Hataoka and Law share the lead at Kingsmill

Nasa Hataoka and Bronte Law take a one-stroke advantage into the final round of Pure Silk Championship. Aditi Ashok missed the cut

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Nasa Hataoka - LPGA Image

LPGA Release, 26 May 2019: Among the crowded leaderboard, Nasa Hataoka and Bronte Law lead the pack at the Pure Silk Championship at -13. Hataoka ended her Kingsmill Resort bogey-free streak (108 holes) at No. 14 but recovered with an eagle on 15 to get her to 6-under on the day. Law birdied the 18th in the final group to secure a spot in the final pairing tomorrow. Aditi Ashok missed the cut as she finished her 36 holes at 4-over-par.

“Since I do like the course and it matches me, I’m just going to go ahead in a good mood and do the right things to get the win,” said Hataoka, who looks to become the second multiple winner of the 2019 season.

Jennifer Song and Brooke Henderson, who shot a 7-under round, are close behind the leaders at -12. Song is glad she is still in contention for her first career victory on the LPGA Tour. “Even just thinking about it right now I get pretty emotional,” said Song. “I know I still have one more round to go and I feel very confident about my game and can stay patient out there.”

Carlota Ciganda may be two strokes back at -11, but said she prefers to chase for the lead. “I am in a good position. I’m going to try to get to 16, 17-under. I think that will be a good number,” said Ciganda. “I think I’m doing lots of good things, especially for next week. So, yeah, keep playing my best, try to hit lots of greens and see what happens.”

HENDERSON FIGHTS HER WAY INTO CONTENTION
The phrase “give up” is not in Brooke Henderson’s dictionary. That was never truer than this week at the Pure Silk Championship. During her second round, Henderson found herself out of bounds off the first tee and ended up making an eight on the par 4. Despite the tough start on Friday she never gave up on herself and fought her way back to even par thanks to an eagle-birdie-birdie stretch (holes 7-9).

Flash forward to the third round and Henderson blazed her way around the Kingsmill Resort with eight birdies, including a birdie on the first hole, to head into the final round just one shot off the lead at 12-under par.

“I finished really strong yesterday, which was really important for me, making a lot of birdies and feeling confident on the course again after a tough start,” Henderson said on Saturday. “But going out today I wanted to birdie the first hole and I was able to do that, which was awesome and kept the momentum going throughout the round.”

Henderson is looking for her second win of the 2019 LPGA season, joining her win at the LOTTE Championship. In each of the last three seasons (2016-2018) Henderson has recorded two wins.

LAW READY FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT AN LPGA TITLE

Bronte Law ended the third round the same way she ended the second – tied for the lead – and is now poised to win her first LPGA Tour title at the Pure Silk Championship presented by Visit Williamsburg. Though she birdied six times throughout the day, it was her final one on the 18th that secured her spot next to Nasa Hataoka at the top at -13.

“It was massive,” said Law on her final shot. “I was really trying to make one more birdie coming in. Didn’t quite make the one on 16 or 17, so I was — had my last shot on 18 to make that birdie to make that final pairing and stay ahead, which is something that I’ve been trying to go for each day and just keep pushing and pushing and making more birdies.”

Law had the chance at a win three weeks ago at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, when her 7-under final round landed her in a playoff with Jeongeun Lee6 and eventual winner Sei Young Kim. With a victory again within reach, Law said she feels ready to take it. “I mean, obviously winning is everything, right?” said the 24-year-old. “That’s why we play this game. I’m going to do my very best to go out and get the win.”

Law is not letting the pressure of playing with Hataoka, who has already won in 2019 at the Kia Classic, get to her going into Sunday. “There are a lot of good players out here. I don’t really pinpoint like individual players. I just know there is a lot of talent on the LPGA, and on the day there are plenty of people that can shoot low numbers,” said Law. “Hoping to go out there and have a good time with her. Hopefully we can push each other and have some fun out there.”

WITH A WIN…

Nasa Hataoka would earn her fourth career victory and visit the winner’s circle for the second time in 2019 after winning at the Kia Classic

Hataoka would become the second multiple winner of 2019 along with Jin Young Ko (Bank of Hope Founders Cup, ANA Inspiration)

With a $195,000 winner’s check, Hataoka would project to move from 14th into fourth on the 2019 LPGA Tour Money List with $528,570. She would move from 170 on the Career Money List to 141 with $2,354,253

Bronte Law would earn her first career victory on the LPGA Tour

Law would become the season’s second Rolex First-Time Winner, joining Celine Boutier

Law would be the first Englishwoman to win on the LPGA Tour since Georgia Hall won the 2018 AIG British Women’s Open

With her ninth victory, Brooke Henderson would have the most wins in history by a Canadian player on the LPGA and PGA Tours

Jennifer Song would earn her first career victory on the LPGA Tour and would become the second American winner of 2019, joining Nelly Korda (ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open)