HONDA LPGA THAILAND

Thailand native and Ladies European Tour rookie Ariya Jutanugarn fired a 2-under 70 on Saturday and will take a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the Honda LPGA Thailand 2013. The 17-year-old sponsor invite sits at 11-under-par through three rounds with three players chasing close behind her at 8-under -- LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Se Ri Pak, 2012 Rolex Player of the Year Stacy Lewis and Spaniard Beatriz Recari.

 

Jutanugarn had an up-and-down day on the Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course on Saturday, recording seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey. But she got hot enough on the back nine to pull away from the rest of the field. After recording a double bogey on the ninth hole, Jutanugarn caught fire as she made the turn. She recorded five straight birdies to start the back nine and took a two-shot advantage over the third-round leader, Lewis. The hot streak had the hometown crowd fired up with excitement as roars filled the golf course for the young Thai prodigy.
“I did feel a lot of pressure early on,” Jutanugarn said of playing in front of her home crowd. “I felt the whole Thai people hope was on my back. After a few holes people starting to cheers me up, and that made all the pressure gone away.”