Dottie Ardina and Yuka Saso found themselves in separate fates as the third round of the 2021 KPMG PGA Women’s Championship unfolded in The Highlands Course in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday.
World no. 8 Saso had another bad day in the office, carving 3-over 75 for a total of 2-over 218 entering the final round on Sunday.
An early bogey in no. 12, just her third for the day pushed her back to even par, before the 19-year-old negated that two holes after and got back to 1-under.
However, a double bogey in the 17th hole turned out to be the turning point for her day’s result, as another bogey in No. 3 pushed her to her tally for the day at 3-over.
A bogey-and-birdie combo in nos. 6 and 7 summed up the day as Saso just went pars in the last two holes.
Still, the day belonged to Ardina, whose 4-under for the day catapulted her to solo sixth with 8-under 208 and just two strokes away from a top three finish.
The 31-year-old did it with a flawless, bogey-less round, starting the course with an early birdie in No. 2.
She then had a steady performance with pars up to No. 9, before continuing on with more until No. 12.
The 2020 Ballarat Icons Pro-Am champion then tackled the next two holes both with one less shot, and zoomed to 3-under for the day for a 7-under overall. Ardina then closed the day with yet another birdie in No. 16 for her final scorecard before the final go-round.
Americans Nelly Korda and Lizette Salas are alone at the top with 15-under, five strokes ahead of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, Italy’s Giulia Molinaro, and France’s Celine Boutier. Ardina is not far behind with just seven strokes adrift the leaders.
Ardina will look to finish strong, and Saso will try to weave her magic for a rousing end, as the third LPGA major championship concludes in this Atlanta course on Sunday.
Saso will start on Tee 1 at 9:45 a.m. (9:45 p.m. Sunday, Manila time), while Ardina gets her turn at 1:15 p.m. (1:15 a.m. Monday, Manila time).
