Firing an 8-under par 64, World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand doubled her lead to six strokes after Saturday’s third round at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla.
At 22-under 194, Thitikul is well ahead of her closest competitors, Nelly Korda and Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn, who both shot a 7-under 65 but are 16-under 200 entering Sunday’s final round at Tiburon Golf Club.
“It’s great,” said Thitikul, who sank nine birdies, including four in a row on Nos. 11-14. “I mean, like everything that I have put in like since yesterday and today was great. Had nothing, just like I said yesterday what I wish for, I just hitting fairway, green, make putts.
“So tomorrow, 18 holes. Hopefully we going to get it done by quickly tomorrow and then enjoying our offseason that’s going to come. And then obviously make a lot of good memories out there tomorrow.”
On the line is an $11 million prize purse with a $4 million check for the winner, one of the most lucrative paydays in women’s golf.
Thitikul won that prize last season and is vying to become the second woman to win this tournament back to back (Jin-young Ko of South Korea did so in 2020 and 2021).
Anannarukarn, whose strong third round included an eagle on the par-5, No. 6 hole, is happy for her friend and countrywoman’s success.
“We’re really good friends, and it’s awesome to see she’s doing well,” said Anannarukarn, who also sank six birdies. “(Thitikul has) been playing very consistent. Again, she’s a good friend of mine and I think we just really — it’s just cool to have a good friend and best friends on Tour because we travel a lot, like far from home, and it’s nice to have someone close.”
As for World No. 2 Korda, who is still seeking her first win of the LPGA season, she said she won’t change her game plan despite being six strokes back of the leader.
“I feel like when you start to push a little harder sometimes the mistakes do start to creep in a little bit,” Korda said after a bogey-free round that included seven birdies. “You just have to be focused on your process and yourself.
“If it happens, it happens. … Because if you start to get a little too ahead of yourself and push a little too hard those mistakes do start to creep in and it’s not going to be beneficial.”
Sei Young Kim is alone in fourth at 15 under after a third-round 68, followed by fellow South Korean Somi Lee (68). Jennifer Kupcho (66) and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen (67) are tied for sixth at 13-under 203.
Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, who fired the low round of the day with a course-record 10-under 62, is alone in eighth at 12-under 204.
“Golf is a crazy sport,” Lopez said after sinking 10 birdies and tying her personal best round. “I think that I just got to give all the credit to my team. They have done unbelievable work with me. They have stuck with me in the lows and the highs. Today is a high and tomorrow we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
–Field Level Media
