World No. 1 Nelly Korda took sole possession of first place through three rounds of the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba with her second straight 5-under-par 67 on Saturday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Korda, who moved back atop the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings with her victory last week at the Chevron Championship, has just one bogey through three rounds at El Camaleon Golf Course, taking a three-stroke lead into the final round at 14-under 202.
Korda had just one birdie through 12 holes of action Saturday before birdies at Nos. 13 and 15 before finishing the day with a bang by carding an eagle at the par-5 18th after hitting her approach shot within a few feet of the hole to cap off the low round of the day.
“Just really happy with my game. Played some solid golf today,” Korda said. “Made a good par save on nine, and that’s the only kind of time in the round that I really put myself into trouble. I’m just trying to play safe with the ones that I wasn’t wanting to be too aggressive with. Overall, really happy with my round.”
Arpichaya Yubol of Thailand is in second place at 11 under after shooting a bogey-free 6 under with three birdies on both the front and back nine. That included birdies on each of the final two holes to claim sole possession of second place. The 23-year-old has five career top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour but is seeking her first championship.
She’ll be in the final group Sunday, celebrating her 24th birthday while playing alongside one of her idols, Korda, for the first time.
“It’s like my dream come true,” Yubol said. “My life is complete right now.”
Japan’s Minami Katsu (69) is in third at 10 under following after a 2-over front nine with a 5-under back nine highlighted by an eagle at the par-4 17th.
Brianna Do, who was a co-leader after each of the first two rounds, is now tied for fourth at 9 under after an even-par finish to the third round. Joining her in that fourth-place group is China’s Yu Liu (69).
Carlota Ciganda (71) of Spain and Round 1 co-leader Melanie Green (73) are tied for sixth at 7 under.
Colombian amateur Maria Jose Marin (69) and Russia’s Nataliya Guseva (70) are tied for eighth at 5 under.
