BELLAIRE, Fla. — Lynn Grant hit two 15-foot putts among her five birdies on Saturday to improve to a 5-under 65, building a one-shot lead at Annika and looking to extend her winning streak with at least one world championship to six years.
Grant only missed one green and two fairways at Pelican Golf Club, then made an up-and-down shot from a greenside bunker on the par-5 14th hole for his final birdie.
At 14-under 196, she was one stroke ahead of Jennifer Kupcho, who also played bogey-free on a crisp afternoon in the Tampa Bay area.
Russia’s Natalya Guseva made all seven birdies in her final 10 holes for a 63, leaving her with a two-stroke lead over Evian champion Grace Kim (68).
“I hit a lot of greens. I think that was my secret this week,” Grant said. “I’m really confident in my iron game and feel like I can really hit the pins. I’m having a lot of fun.”
The 26-year-old Swede went bogey-free through 35 holes heading into the final round seeking his second LPGA victory. Grant, who played at Arizona State University, won the Nordic Golf League twice as an amateur, the Sunshine Ladies Tour of South Africa, the Ladies European Tour and the LET Access Series through 2020.
With only this event and the CME Group Tour Championship remaining on the LPGA schedule, time is running out for Grant to win in 2025.
Kupcho spent most of the day with her, but she complained that she had to wait too long for shots. Kupcho attributed the pace to the course playing about 100 yards shorter.
“I think the setup was still okay. They do a really good job of setting up this golf course every year,” Kupcho said. “It’s a little frustrating when you’re the leader or at the back of the pack and have to wait for every shot.”
Defending champion Nelly Korda, who won seven titles a year ago but was winless this year, made three birdies in the final four holes of the round and overcame an early bogey to move closer to the lead. But on the 18th, his 25-foot birdie putt just missed the lip, and he also missed a 4-foot par putt on the way back for a 68.
He was six strokes behind Korda, who shot a 63 in the second round and came within three of the lead.
“Today was kind of like the first day, nothing went right for me, but I probably figured out a few things in the last few holes and ended up finishing the round,” Korda said.
