Clariss Guce and Dottie Ardina barely made a move on Moving Day, while Sam Bruce stumbled badly as Filipino bets faltered in the Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, California on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).
American rookie sensation Yana Wilson surged ahead, setting the pace heading into the final round and closer to a third career victory.
Guce, a two-time Epson Tour champion, struggled to find her rhythm through the first 11 holes, settling for pars before finally breaking through with a birdie on the par-4 12th. A bogey on the 14th, however, stymied any late momentum, though she salvaged her round with a birdie on 17 to card a 1-under 71. She stood tied for 44th at six-under 210, far off the pace set by Wilson.
Wilson fired a 66, offsetting an early bogey on No. 1 with seven birdies to reach 17-under 199 and grab a one-stroke lead over Sophia Schubert.
Ardina, backed by ICTSI, fared slightly better, rebounding from a bogey on the first with three consecutive birdies from No. 3. She added another birdie on the 12th, but a bogey on No. 16 saw her sign for a 70. She tumbled to a share of 50th at 211.
Bruce, who began the third round in promising position after rounds of 68 and 70, saw her hopes unravel early. Two double bogeys and a lone birdie in the first six holes spelled disaster, although she showed grit with a string of pars and a birdie on No. 17 to rescue a 74. She fell to 56th at 212, a far cry from her earlier form.
Meanwhile, Schubert, the first-round leader, roared back into contention with a 67, putting her just one stroke behind Wilson at 200, while Anne Chen, the 36-hole frontrunner, remains in striking distance at 201 after a steady 69, setting the stage for a thrilling three-way battle among the Americans in the final round.
In LPGA action, South Korea’s Youmin Hwang produced a stunning finish to capture her maiden title at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii. Trailing for most of the final round, Hwang birdied the last four holes for a 67 and a 17-under 271 total, edging compatriot and major champion Hyo Joo Kim by a single stroke.
Kim, who shot a solid 68, finished at 272, while Japan’s Minami Katsu secured solo third at 273 with a 69.
Hwang’s title charge seemed unlikely after a sluggish front nine of even-par 36. But a birdie on the 13th lit a spark, and her clutch closing stretch sealed a come-from-behind victory in dramatic fashion as she joined the growing list of Korean winners in the world’s premier ladies circuit.