The Tribune

ANNA Nordqvist and Charley Hull converted birdies on the par-five 18th hole on Saturday to nose ahead of the field by one stroke after three rounds of the $1.4 million Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.

A five-time winner on the LPGA, including the 2009 McDonald's LPGA Championship, Swedish player Nordqvist carded a five-under-par 68 on the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island. Hull, from Britain, seeking her first title, had a 69 and owned a share of the lead for the third straight day, this time at 12-under 207.

In close pursuit was a threesome that includes world No.3 Stacy Lewis, who fired a flawless 67 for an 11-under 208 aggregate score. Lewis has not won in 39 starts going back to 2014. During that period she has had 11 top-three finishes.

Joining her were Hyo Joo Kim, who had a 68, and defending champion Sei Young Kim, who shot 69. Kim held a two-stroke lead until suffering a double-bogey at the par-four 16th after finding the water hazard behind the green.

Next at 209 were teen sensation Megan Khang and Ilhee Lee, who won the inaugural Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic in a rain-shortened 36-hole competition. She has a chance to win the 72-hole version after her third round sevcen-under 66. Khang, who shared the second-round lead with Hull and Haru Nomura, got round in 69.

Alison Lee and Catriona Matthew, who were part of a seven-way tie at the top after the first round, stood at 210 after, 69 and 71, respectively. Hee Young Park joined them with a 66.

An eventful day under sunny skies and light breezes - a sharp contrast to the blustery second round - became historical thanks to Ha Na Jang, who made an ace at the par-four eighth hole with a three-wood from 218 yards. It is believed to be the first time a player has made a hole-in-one on a par-four hole in LGPA history.

Jang knelt on the green and kissed the turf in front of the hole before removing the ball from the hole. She finished the day with a five-under 68 and stood tied for 13th at 212 going into the final round, five behind Nordqvist and Hull.

“I don't see the ball finish on No.8 hole but my dad was, 'Oh, you made it.' I said it's unbelievable, my shot. Amazing,” said Jang, 23, of South Korea, who has six holes-in-one in her career, two in competition. She also made an albatross on a par-five in a practice round in Vietnam.

“We had 218 flag, 208 front,” said Jang's caddie, Graeme Courts, describing the circumstances on the hole officially listed at 232 yards. “Wind was just slightly on us, straight into us, five mile-an-hour breeze and hit a three wood, and it looked like it went up the hill about perfect, which I think I actually said, 'Go in,' which is a crazy thing on a par four. But I said, 'Go in,' and it disappeared. This is my 28th year and I'd thought I'd seen it all, but something else that I saw today that I hadn't seen in the past. That's something that I will remember for a long time.”

Nordqvist, who won last year's Shoprite LPGA Classic and has three victories in her last two seasons, has led going into the final round three times and twice gone on to victory. “I was really happy with the round,” said Nordqvist, who had six birdies and one bogey. “I tried to stay patient and judge the wind well out here. It's been different every day. It just plays really different and you have to adapt and make confident swings.”

In contrast, Hull has never before led going into the final round. She said she will not change her free-wheeling approach because of the scoreboard. “I'm just going to free-wheel it and play golf,” she said. “I've just been focusing keeping my head down this week.”

Sunday's final round begins at 9.22am with players going off both the first and 10th tees in threesomes. Golf Channel will provide live coverage starting at 2.30pm and will stay to the tournament's conclusion.