The team of Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho pulled away from a five-way tie for first on Saturday, taking a one-shot lead after three rounds of action at the Dow Championship in Midland, Mich.
Ewing and Kupcho tallied four birdies against one bogey to finish at 3-under 67 for the day while playing in the four-ball (best-ball) format. They are at 15 under for the tournament while South Koreans Haeji Kang and In Kyung Kim (65 on Saturday) and Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and China’s Ruoning Yin (66) are trailing close behind, with both pairs at 14 under.
“It was just really consistent,” Ewing said of Saturday’s performance with Kupcho. “It was not the easiest. I thought the wind was a bit swirly. It was tough to gauge exactly where it was coming from and gusty. So we just played really consistent golf — gave each other a lot of good looks. Really happy we got a round of 3 under.”
Kupcho closed the third round on a high note, making a birdie putt at the par-3 18th to send the leaders into Sunday’s final round at Midland Country Club with some additional momentum.
“I think it just gives us confidence, especially for me making that last putt,” Kupcho said. “I’ve been struggling all week, especially with putting. To see one go in is really good to carry into tomorrow.”
Kang and Kim secured low-round honors thanks to four birdies and an eagle at the par-4 fifth. Their only blemish came at No. 18, as they settled for a bogey.
“I think we did pretty well yesterday, but I think it’s just something that I’ve done it before,” Kim said. “Alternate shot is very — I don’t have much experience of it, but best ball, I think we get to have a little bit more fun to play the course.
“It’s a fun tournament so far for me. It’s my first time experiencing (it). So it’s really cool.”
Amanda Doherty and Caroline Inglis fired a 4-under 66 on Saturday and are tied for fourth with Auston Kim and Australian Grace Kim. Both duos are two strokes off the lead.
Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup and countrywoman and teammate Nanna Koerstz Madsen (70) and the all-Taiwanese team of Ssu-Chia Cheng and Wei-Ling Hsu (70) are T6 at 12 under, while Englishwomen Georgia Hall and Charley Hull (70) and the all-Thai pairing of Jaravee Boonchant and Chanettee Wannasaen (71) are tied for eighth, four shots behind Ewing and Kupcho.
–Field Level Media