China’s Feng Shanshan fired six birdies in a six-under par 66 on Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead going into the final round of the LPGA Volvik Championship in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Feng’s 15-under par total of 201 put her one stroke in front of American Lizette Salas, who carded a 67 for 202.
Norway’s Suzann Pettersen was a further stroke back after a 69 for 203, with overnight leader Park Sung-Hyun (72) tied on 204 with fellow South Korean Lee Jeong-Eun (68) on 204.
Feng, who claimed the most recent of her six LPGA titles at the Japan Classic last year, has three top-10 finishes this season.
She grabbed a share of the lead with back-to-back birdies to cap her round, and was alone at the top after Salas bogeyed the par–five 18th.
“I started the round a little slowly. I was only one-under through eight holes and then I made two putts in a row on the ninth and 10th,” Feng said. “After that I was just feeling like, ‘Oh, I can start making birdies,’ and I was more comfortable.”
Down by one when she arrived at 18, Feng admitted she felt some pressure hitting her wedge into the final hole, but stuck her approach close and converted the birdie.
“I’m feeling good about my condition right now and what I’ve done the first three days, so I am looking forward to the final day,” she said.
Salas finished the day with seven birdies and two bogeys in her five under effort.
“I hit the ball amazing today, I putted really great,” said Salas, who nevertheless admitted that bogey at the last rankled.
“Finishing like that really just gets under my skin,” she said. “I think that is going to be an extra push for tomorrow, too.
“I had a two-shot lead and now I’m one back. But that’s golf. You hit great ones, you hit bad ones, and unfortunately that bad one was on my last hole today.”
Pettersen kept herself in striking distance with four birdies and one bogey in her three-under effort.
LPGA rookie Park, who came into the day with a two-stroke lead, had two bogeys and two birdies in her even par round.
With afternoon and evening storms predicted for Sunday, starting times for the final round have been moved up in hopes of beating the weather.
Players will go off in groups of three from both the first and 10th tees to speed the round.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.