McDonald remains one shot ahead
Ally McDonald, hoping to win her first LPGA title, fired a threeunder-par 69 for a one-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the Drive On Championship.
The American reeled off four birdies in five holes in the middle of her round to stand on 13-under 203 after 54 holes at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia.
“I played some really solid golf after I settled in,” McDonald said. “I’m excited with the position I’m in. Mentally I think I handled myself really well.”
Filipino Bianca Pagdanganan shot 69, the 22-year-old closing with backto-back birdies to stand second on 204 with American Danielle Kang third on 205, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda fourth on 206 and Australian Katherine Kirk fifth on 207.
Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (72) was five shots off the pace on eight-under 208. She was tied sixth alongside Americans Mina Harigae (68) and Brittany Altomare (70).
World No.62 McDonald’s best LPGA finishes have been two third-place showings, most recently at last year’s ShopRite Classic.
She hopes for a breakthrough on her 28th birthday on the final day of an event that was created to fill in a gap between US events after the LPGA’s usual Asian swing was wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m sitting on the lead. People are going to be coming for the lead,” McDonald said. “It’s not shying away from it. It’s embracing where I am and try to not be complacent and just go out and execute my game plan.
“I’m definitely in a more comfortable position knowing that what I have in me is enough. I don’t have to push and be more than I am. It’s just trusting what I know I can do.”
No spectators are allowed on the course but boaters on the lakeside layout honked horns for good shotmaking throughout the round.
World No.233 Pagdanganan, the
LPGA driving yardage leader, hopes for her first LPGA triumph in only her sixth professional start.
LEADING THIRD ROUND SCORES
(par-72, USA unless noted)
203 — Ally McDonald 66-68-69
204 — Bianca Pagdanganan (PHI) 68-67-69
205 — Danielle Kang 65-70-70
206 — Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 73-65-68
207 — Katherine Kirk (AUS) 72-65-70
208 — Mina Harigae 72-68-68, Brittany Altomare 71-6770, Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 67-69-72
209 — Megan Khang 71-70-68, Lydia Ko (NZL) 71-70-68, Angel Yin 72-67-70, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 68-69-72, Mel Reid (ENG) 69-68-72