Maguire chasing another top 10 in Marathon Classic
DALY CITY, CA - JUNE 10: Leona Maguire of Ireland tees off from the 9th hole during the first round of the LPGA Mediheal Championship at Lake Merced Golf Club on June 10, 2021 in Daly City, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Leona Maguire finished with three straight birdies to keep alive her hopes of recording her fifth top-10 finish of the season in the Marathon LPGA Classic in Ohio.
The Slieve Russell National star turned in two-under after birdies at the eighth and ninth, then followed a bogey at the 11th with that fast finish.
She’s tied for 15th on nine-under par, 10 strokes behind Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (64) but just one stroke outside the top 10.
NASA HATAOKA STILL ATOP IN TOLEDO
Another day, another solid round for Nasa Hataoka. The 22-year-old Japanese phenom carded a 7-under 64 on Saturday at the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana, missing just one fairway and one green all day. She rocketed back up the leaderboard, reaching -19 and taking a six-stroke lead over Americans Elizabeth Szokol and Mina Harigae into Sunday’s final round at Highland Meadows Golf Club.
“When I first was here, it was my rookie year and I really played awful, so when I'm playing the way I am right now, it really makes me think how much I grew up, how much better I've gotten,” said Hataoka, who knocked in eight birdies and one three-putt bogey on Saturday. “Right now I'm not going to think about the winning. I'm just going to concentrate on playing the best.”
At 19-under 194, Hataoka set the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record. The previous mark of 195 was set three times – Se Ri Pak in 1998, Paula Creamer in 2008 and Eunjung Yi in 2009. All three players went on to win the tournament. This is also the third time Hataoka has led or co-led entering the final round of an LPGA Tour event. She won the 2018 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship but finished second at the 2019 Pure Silk Championship.
Sunday’s final round will feature Hataoka, Szokol and Harigae as it did on Saturday. Both Americans are playing in Sunday’s final group for the first time in their careers, but those careers are at very different points. Harigae is a 12-year Tour veteran, while Szokol is just in her third season. With both players looking to break into the winner’s circle, they are faced with the tough battle of coming back from a six-stroke deficit. Not unheard of, but highly challenging.
“I've seen the scores out here. Some girls, you can go really low out here, but you just never know. Golf is a funny game,” said Harigae, who shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday. “I think if I just keep my head down and keep going forward, it might pan out.”
Szokol opened with a double bogey at No. 1 and quickly looked to be out of the competition. Seven birdies and one bogey later and she was right back in contention.
“There are so many birdies out there. I've definitely made some birdies even though I've had some colorful scorecard,” said Szokol. “I think (I can win). Just get the birdies and keep a clean scorecard, and I'm looking forward to it.”
Esther Henseleit holds solo fourth at -12, continuing a strong streak of play that saw her finish fourth at last week’s Volunteers of America Classic and 15th the week prior at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso is tied for fifth at -11, playing in her first non-major as an LPGA Tour Member.
Ssu-Chia Cheng aced No. 14, from 164 yards with a 7-iron, for the second ace of the week and the 11th of the 2021 season. She ultimately shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday and is tied for 15th at -9 overall.
With inclement weather expected on Sunday, the LPGA Tour moved up final-round tee times. The first groups will start at 7 a.m., with the leaders set to tee off at 9:28 a.m.
WITH A WIN
Nasa Hataoka would earn her fourth victory and tie Hiromi Kobayashi as the winningest Japanese LPGA Tour player
With the $300,000 winner’s check, Nasa Hataoka would move to $4,234,058 in career earnings; she would project to move from 94th to 87th on the All-Time Money List and become the 92nd player to break the $4 million threshold
Mina Harigae or Elizabeth Szokol would become the fifth Rolex First-Time Winner of the 2021 LPGA Tour season (Patty Tavatanakit, ANA Inspiration; Wei-Ling Hsu, Pure Silk Championship; Yuka Saso, U.S. Women’s Open; Matilda Castren, LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship)
Yuka Saso would become the first player with multiple wins as a LPGA Tour rookie since Sung Hyun Park in 2017 (U.S. Women’s Open and CP Women’s Open)
Amy Yang would earn her fifth LPGA Tour victory and first on American soil; she has won once in Korea and three times in Thailand
Austin Ernst would earn her fourth LPGA Tour victory and second of 2021, joining the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala
Caroline Masson would earn her second LPGA Tour victory and first since the 2016 Manulife LPGA Classic
Stacy Lewis would earn her 14th LPGA Tour victory; no player has exactly 14 career victories
Stacy Lewis would win in back-to-back years for the first time since she won at least once annually from 2011 to 2014; in August 2020, Lewis won the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open
Danielle Kang would become the first player since Nelly Korda (2018 and 2019 Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA) to successful defend a title
