Jenny Bae will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Mexico Riviera Maya Open in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, after shooting a 1-under 71 on Saturday.
Bae, who hails from Suwanee, Ga., and is seeking her first win on the LPGA Tour as a rookie, got off to a strong start Saturday with three straight birdies, then bogeyed the par-4 No. 6 hole and closed with another bogey on No. 18, a par-5 hole. Despite the rough ending, she holds a one-shot lead for the second straight day and sits at 7-under 209.
“I was definitely a little nervous and tense heading into the third round,” said Bae, whose three professional wins came on the Epson Tour. “The three birdies back-to-back-to-back was definitely a big confidence-booster for me to finish out strong.
“I didn’t finish as well as I wanted to, but that’s OK. Just tells me that I need to fight more the last 18 holes.”
China’s Yahui Zhang and Japan’s Chisato Iwai are tied for second after both shot 4-under 68 Saturday, the low round of the day. Both are 6-under 210 through the third round.
Zhang, who was tied for 10th after the second round, notched five birdies on Saturday, including the final two holes, alone with one bogey on the par-4 No. 9 hole. The 2024 Epson Tour Rookie of the Year is also seeking her first win on the LPGA Tour.
“I mean, I wish I don’t think too much and just play like today,” Zhang said about her mindset entering the final round. “Today I think the strategy (was) pretty good and my chip is really good. Maybe after I finish today, I (will) go back and practice a little.”
Iwai was also tied for 10th after two rounds, but rebounded on Saturday with four birdies and was the only player not to record a bogey in the third round. In the running for her first LPGA victory, she emphasized being patient in Sunday’s final round.
Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels is two shots off the lead after an eventful 71 on Saturday, which included a double-bogey on the first hole, bogeys on Nos. 6, 7 and 13, and six birdies. Four of those birdies came on the final five holes, including the last three in a row.
“Didn’t start that well at all,” said Ruffels, who is 5-under 211 for the weekend. “Hit it to the right on No. 1. Made a double. But I was just proud of the way I kind of stuck in there and felt like I gave myself the chance to kind of come back. To finish the way I did is really good and some momentum into tomorrow.”
Seven players are in striking distance, three shots back at 4-under 212, through three rounds: South Korea’s Somi Lee (68 on Saturday), Haeji Kang (69) and Hye-Jin Choi (72), Lindy Duncan (69), Germany’s Aline Krauter (70), China’s Miranda Wang (73) and Brianna Do (73).
–Field Level Media
