Canadian Brooke Henderson was making a potent charge up the leaderboard Saturday before lightning rolled through The Woodlands, Texas, and suspended the third round of the Chevron Championship, the first women’s major of the year.
Henderson was 8-under par heading into the 18th hole and in a tie for second before the dangerous weather conditions halted play. The third round will continue at 7 a.m. local time Sunday.
Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul is leading the tournament at 11 under, one shot ahead of Henderson and Nelly Korda. Thitikul is through 12 holes and Korda through 11. Both players are at 3 under for their third rounds.
Henderson made seven birdies and an eagle in a nine-hole stretch, including five straight holes under par on Nos. 7-11.
“You know, I’ve been hitting it really well all week,” Henderson said. “I just wasn’t really capitalizing on some of the opportunities. I was just playing really steady, really solid. Today I was able to make a few putts. I kind of just really felt a lot of great momentum with my putter and was able to keep it pretty hot throughout the back nine.
“A little disappointed I dropped the one shot on 16, but I have 18 left tomorrow morning early, so hopefully go out and post a good score and then go into tomorrow with a lot of confidence and a lot of momentum.”
Jin Hee Im sits solo fourth at 9 under through 11 holes. Lauren Coughlin and Hae Ran Ryu are tied for fifth at 8 under. Coughlin is through 13 holes and Ryu 12.
Thitikul came into the day atop the leaderboard and has work to do to remain there Sunday morning.
Korda is looking at a par putt on the 12th hole when play resumes.
“I had a bogey-free 3-under on the front nine and I have probably a three- or four-footer for par on the hole that I didn’t finish so overall I feel like I played pretty good,” Korda said. “The greens are a little softer than maybe days prior, so I could be a little bit more aggressive, but overall I felt pretty good out there.”
Heavy rainfall is expected overnight at The Club at Carlton Woods. The course took over a half-inch of rain Saturday before play was finally called at 5:30 p.m. after a delay of 2 hours and 33 minutes.
The final round is expected to begin around 9:20 local time Sunday morning.
–Field Level Media