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Pornanong still in contention for maiden victory (nationthailand.com)

Pornanong still in contention for maiden victory

Dec 06. 2020Pornanong Phatlum (Credit to Getty Images) A finishing birdie saw Thai hope Pornanong Phatlum surged into contention, falling one stroke behind co-leaders after round three of the Volunteer of America Classic at the Old American Golf Club in Texas.

After trading two birdies with two bogeys, the 31-year-old sent home a birdie on the 18^th hole for a round of 70 and a total three under-par-210, which placed her at joint fourth along with American Kristen  Gillman, Angela Stanford, Jessica Korda, Charley  Hull of England, Jin Young Ko of South Korea and Nasa Hataoka of Japan.

After an action-packed day at the Volunteers of America Classic, major champions Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu along with 2020 LPGA Tour rookie Yealimi Noh are tied at the top of the leaderboard at four under-par-209.

So Yeon Ryu, in just her third 2020 event on Tour, recorded a bogey-free 65 and carded six birdies with five on her opening nine holes. Hitting 17 of 18 greens, the 30-year-old couldn’t be happier with her results after starting the day in a tie for 26th.

“I have no complaints about my ball‑striking today,” said Ryu. “I hit 17 greens, I believe, and then I made so many birdie chances. I wish I could have made more putts on the back nine, but 65 is always good score and hopefully I can drop some putt tomorrow, what I could not make today.”

Park, who is in contention for her third victory at the VOA Classic after winning in 2013 and 2015, nearly shot a bogey-free round if not for an unfortunate slip on No. 11.

“I feel like I play really good on the front nine. Just the back nine I hit a lot of good shots, but just putts didn’t drop. A little disappointed back nine, but I played pretty well overall and I’m happy because we took about seven weeks of break after KPMG and coming back here first week just preparing for the U.S. Women’s Open, so I’m really happy with my game,” said Park, who hit 13 of 13 fairways and carded three birdies on Nos. 6, 8 and 9.

Noh closed with an even-par 71, after a roller-coaster third round. The 19-year-old had gotten to -6 by No. 18 after four birdies and two bogeys, but two shots in the fairway-bunker on the final hole contributed to a double-bogey to lose the solo lead heading into Sunday.

“Bad shots happen. No one’s perfect and mistakes are always there, but just to get over it and try to make the next shot or stick it close to save it,” started Noh. “I was thinking about it after the round too, like what was good and what was bad. But I think I just ‑‑ I didn’t hit as many greens as I thought, but overall ‑‑ I had some good up and downs today, so that really helped me save par,” said Noh.

Seven players are in the hunt one stroke back at -3, including major champions Jin Young Ko and Angela Stanford, as well as Texas resident Kristen Gillman, after a third-round 66, her lowest 18-hole score since a round-two 66 at the 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai.

“Definitely happy with how today went,” said Gillman. “I haven’t been hitting my driver as good the last two days, so I kind of focused on putting myself in the fairway because I’ve been hitting my irons well and I knew I’d give myself more birdie chance if I did that.”

Swedes Madelene Sagstrom and Anna Nordqvist, who slipped from a tie for first to a tie for 11th heading into the final day, sit at -2.

WITH A WIN

Inbee Park would become the third winner of 2020 with multiple victories along with Danielle Kang (LPGA Drive On Championship – Inverness Club, Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana) and Sei Young Kim (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Pelican Women’s Championship presented by DEX Imaging and Konica Minolta); it would be her 21st career Tour victory

With the $262,500 winner’s check, Park would pass Sei Young Kim for the No. 1 spot on the LPGA Tour Official Money list with $1,329,020 this season

Park or So Yeon Ryu would become the fourth different player from the Republic of Korea to win the VOA Classic since its inception in 2016

It would be Ryu’s first win since the 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic and her seventh career victory; it would be her second professional victory this year after winning the Korean Women’s Open on the Korean LPGA (KLPGA) this past June

Yealimi Noh would become the fourth Rolex First-Time Winner of 2020, joining Madelene Sagstrom (Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio), Mel Reid (ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer) and Ally McDonald (LPGA Drive On Championship – Reynolds Lake Oconee)

At 19 years, 4 months and 11 days on Sunday, Noh would be the first 2020 Tour Rookie to win this season and the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour since Lydia Ko at the 2016 Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana (19y/2m/23d)

Noh would also be the first player to win under the age of 20 since Nasa Hataoka at the 2018 TOTO Japan Classic; she would be the first American to win in her teens since Lexi Thompson at the 2014 ANA Inspiration (19y/1m/18d)

Noh would be the third LPGA*USGA Girls Golf alum to win on the LPGA Tour after Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel

ROOKIE YEALIMI NOH “SUPER EXCITED” TO PLAY FINAL ROUND WITH ROLE MODELS RYU AND PARK

Ever since she was a young golfer, Yealimi Noh took inspiration from many players that hailed from the Republic of Korea, most notably LPGA Tour winners such as 20-time LPGA Tour winner Inbee Park and six-time Tour champion So Yeon Ryu.

“I’m super, super excited,” said Noh, who holds the 54-hole lead for the second time in her career. “I was telling my parents in the beginning of the week how it would be so cool to play with either one of them. I really wanted to play with them to see just up close how amazing they are and to learn and it will be really fun tomorrow.”

With so many reasons to be nervous, the 19-year-old who is still waiting to obtain a driver’s license is trying her best to remain calm—which she’s done well leading up to the final round at the VOA Classic.

“No matter how many times I’m in contention, I think it’s always nerve racking on the final day, but I have to just be really calm tomorrow and stay patient,” said Noh, who is looking for her first win on the LPGA Tour. “Patience is key and just play my game and see where it takes me.”

NO MATTER THE COURSE, QUEEN INBEE SHINES AT VOA CLASSIC

When it comes to the VOA Classic for Rolex Ranking No. 5 Inbee Park, she’s most famous for winning the event in both 2013 and 2015. But, the event wasn’t played at Old American Golf Club. This week, the “Queen” of the LPGA Tour proved venue doesn’t matter, as she looks to be the third Tour  winner of 2020 with multiple victories this season.

“This golf course, the greens are just so pure. I had a couple of mistakes, you know, greens are just too fast for me. I have been practicing a little bit on the slower green than this, you know, last couple of months,” said Park. “So I’m just trying to still adjust a little bit of speed, but the course is in really good condition. Greens are a little bit softer than last year, but with the cold weather it is playing tough. Once you miss the green, it is really hard to get up and down so you have to hit a lot of greens on this golf course.”

Flying back home to the Republic of Korea after taking second at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in early October, the 32-year-old LPGA veteran had lower expectations for the week. Instead, she presented the week more as an opportunity to warm up for next week’s U.S. Women’s Open, which she won in 2008 and 2013.

“I think I was probably thinking that I am going to be a little bit rusty and just trying to get things going before the Open, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I mean, it is tough with the little bit chillier weather, but that’s how we’re going to get next week so trying to get used to playing in cold conditions, and I feel like I’m doing just fine,” said Park.

SO YEON RYU RECORDS EVENT’S LOWEST 18-HOLE SCORE THROUGH THREE ROUNDS

6-under par is a great score for any golfer, yet, when the athlete knows they can shoot even lower, it’s merely acceptable.

“Actually I’ve been hitting the ball really, really well today, so hopefully I can shoot some low number. And even though I played a few events in Korea, I never really had low scores. So I really wanted to shoot like 8 under, 7 under, so that’s what I was looking for. I was expecting little better than 65, but once again, 65 is always good score to have,” said So Yeon Ryu, tied for the lead at the Volunteers of America Classic.

Her first LPGA Tour event since ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in February, Ryu didn’t come in with any particular expectations. Yet, she knew her swing was off, so coming back to the United States and seeing her coach again for the first time in months helped her, which showed this week.

“Well, to be honest, was bit of struggle with the ball‑striking the last two days, but I went to see my coach on Monday. I haven’t seen him for nine months and finally got to see him, and he gave me couple of swing thoughts and that one really worked out well today. So I have no complaint about my ball‑striking today,” said Ryu.