LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – China’s Liu Yu had seven birdies
and an eagle in a seven-under par 65 on Saturday to seize a one-shot lead
over Carlota Ciganda in the LPGA Founders Cup.
Liu, who shared the overnight lead with world number one Park Sung-hyun,
was four-under over her last four holes — with an eagle at the par-five 15th
and back-to-back birdies to finish — to overtake Spain’s Ciganda with a 54-
hole total of 19-under 197 at the Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ciganda had roared up the leaderboard with a blemish-free nine-under par
63 — playing her last five holes in five-under with a birdie at 14 followed
by an eagle at 15 and birdies at 16 and 18.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Ciganda said of seeing all the birdies land.
“When you make putts, it’s great. Really I’ve been playing great. I’m
hitting lots of greens so it was a matter of making lots of putts.”
Nine-under to start the day, the Spaniard had four birdies on the front
nine, but she was fighting to stay patient as she opened the back nine with
four straight pars.
At the par-three 14th, she said, “I hit a really good shot there, tap in.
“They put the tee up on 15 so I hit driver, seven-iron, made a good putt
for eagle.”
Birdies followed at 16 and 18, putting her alone in front until Liu
powered past her.
It was a further two strokes back to American Angel Yin, who carded a 66
for 200.
Park fired a 69 to head a group on 201 that also included former world
number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who posted a 67.
South Koreans Kim Hyo-Joo and Ko Jin-young both carded 64s to join the
group sharing fourth along with Nelly Korda, who carded a 66.
Spain’s Azahara Munoz showed early on that low scores were possible,
firing a bogey-free 63 that like Ciganda’s included seven birdies and an
eagle at 15.
Munoz grabbed her eagle despite chunking her approach. She pitched in from
some 70 yards out.
“It was fun today,” she said. “Everything was working.”