Jing Yan held onto the lead Saturday at the LPGA Meijer Classic, shooting a 4-under-par 68 to stay in front through three rounds at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich.
Yan sits at 14-under 202, giving her a one-shot lead over England’s Lottie Woad and a two-shot edge on Australia’s Cassie Porter entering Sunday’s final round.
This was Yan’s first time in the final group heading into the weekend on the LPGA Tour, an experience that had her feeling a little anxious.
“I was a little bit nervous but I tried to take it as a good thing,” Yan said after the round. “You know, you don’t learn to be in this position without being in this position, so, yeah, I tried to think of it as excitement and helped me focus. Yeah, but there were some nerves there. The heart was beating.”
Woad also posted a 68 to remain right on Yan’s heels at 13 under.
“I feel like my short game is in a good spot,” Woad said. “I had like a few chips that definitely felt makable. Just trying to give those a chance. You know, tap-in for par when you miss the green is never a bad thing.”
Porter, who began the day tied for second, slipped one spot despite a 69 and will start the final round at 12 under.
The biggest move near the top came from South Korea’s In Gee Chun, who fired a bogey-free 65 to climb into a tie for fourth at 10 under. Chun jumped 32 spots on moving day and now shares fourth with Taiwan’s Wei-Ling Hsu and Yan Liu of China.
“Before we started the game today, my caddie and I talked that we can make a lot of birdies,” Chun said. “I was happy I made a lot of birdies on the course. Also, I was pretty surprised a lot of spectators out here. I was pretty thankful to all the spectators who cheered me and watched my game today. That helped a lot my game.”
Hsu matched Yan and Woad with a 68, while Liu, the first-round leader, carded a 70 and is four shots back after three rounds.
Yan began the week chasing her first LPGA Tour title and now has 18 holes to close it out. She has followed rounds of 68 and 66 with another steady score, keeping the lead despite several players making pushes behind her.
The final round sets up as a tight chase, with Woad and Porter still close enough to apply pressure early and three players at 10 under needing a low Sunday to have a chance.
–Field Level Media
