Japanese rookie Akie Iwai fired an eight-under 64 to seize a two-shot lead after Saturday’s third round of the Portland Classic.
The 23-year-old from Saitama, seeking her first LPGA victory, made seven birdies and an eagle against a lone bogey to reach 18-under 198 after 54 holes at Edgewater Country Club.
Australia’s Grace Kim, who won her maiden Major title at the Evian Championship, produced the shot of the day with an eagle at the 17th, holing out from 156 yards in the fairway rough. She signed for a 67 to sit second on 16-under 200.
World No 29 Iwai, an LPGA runner-up this year in Thailand and at the LA Championship, has already collected six titles on the Japan Tour.
“After I made the eagle at 5, I had many birdie chances, so good tempo,” Iwai said. “My style is aggressive. No change this week. Aim to the pin. Every shot. Every hole.”
That was evident at the 18th, where she stuck her approach inches from the flag and tapped in for her fourth birdie on the back nine.
Iwai answered a bogey at the par-three 2nd with a birdie at the 3rd, then eagled the par-five 5th before reeling off back-to-back birdies at 6 and the par-five 7th.
She opened the back nine with birdies at the par-five 10th and 12th and added another at the par-three 13th to reach 17 under, moving three clear before Kim’s late surge.
Kim went four under over her last five holes with birdies at 14 and 15 followed by her spectacular eagle at the 17th.
“I leaked my driver a little right,” Kim said. “I thought I was going to be in the rough, which it was, and I was trying to see if I could get a drop. I wasn’t entirely over the sprinkler head boxes so I knew I just had to hit it.
“It leaked right again and I was like, ‘Oh please get through the rough,’ and somehow it went in the hole, so I guess it’s a little bit of luck in there.”
Sweden’s Linn Grant shot 65 to sit third on 14-under 202, one ahead of American Gurleen Kaur. India’s Aditi Ashok and American Gina Kim share fifth on 12-under 204.
South Korea’s Lee5 Jeong-eun, who led after 36 holes, stumbled with a triple-bogey at the par-four 6th to drop eight shots off the pace.
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai shared 27th on seven-under 209 after carding a 75 that included three bogeys, a double-bogey and two birdies.
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Article Link: Iwai grabs lead at Portland Classic