American golfer Angel Yin put on an impressive performance on Saturday, shooting a 7-under 65 to move into a share of the third-round lead at the LPGA Shanghai tournament. Yin is now tied with Maja Stark, who had previously held a one-stroke lead after two rounds.
Both Yin and Stark finished the day with 12-under totals of 204 on the Qizhong Garden Golf Club course. This tournament marks the LPGA’s first return to China since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pavarisa Yoktuan of Thailand was close behind, just one shot back in third place after shooting a 69, despite bogeying her final hole.
Two-time defending champion Danielle Kang of the United States had a tougher day, shooting a 73 and now finds herself four strokes behind the leaders. Despite this setback, Yin and Stark have proven to be strong contenders throughout the tournament.
Stark acknowledged that her ball-striking was not up to her usual standards on Saturday. However, she praised her putting for keeping her at the top of the leaderboard. After a bogey on the 12th hole, Stark rebounded with back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th holes. Although a three-putt on the par-5 17th set her back once again, she remains within striking distance of her second LPGA Tour title. Stark expressed the significance of winning, particularly with the presence of top players in the field.
Yin’s 65 was her best 18-hole score since the third round of the 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand. She attributed her early three-putt bogey on the first hole to “bad communication” with her caddie. However, Yin quickly regrouped and carded eight birdies afterward, including five in her last eight holes for a back-nine score of 31. Looking ahead, Yin remains focused on living in the moment and hitting her shots, avoiding overthinking and getting caught up in her own head.
The LPGA Shanghai tournament marks the beginning of a four-tournament Asia swing, with later stops in South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan. This return to golf in China is significant after a two-year absence, and it promises to be an exciting conclusion to the event as the top contenders battle it out for the title.
Overall, the LPGA Shanghai tournament has showcased some exceptional golf from Angel Yin, Maja Stark, and other talented players. As the final round approaches, fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to this highly anticipated event.