Japan’s Minami Katsu followed up her incredible -11 second round with a solid -4 68 to hold on to a two-stroke lead at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.
Katsu’s near perfection Friday was erased almost immediately with a bogey on the opening hole. She wasted no time making up for it though, with birdies on two and four. She grabbed two more birdies on the front side on holes seven and eight.
The back nine didn’t go as smooth, with another bogey on hole 12 before birdies on 13 and 17 to shoot -1 on the back.
Katsu was once again very accurate, hitting 13/14 fairways and 14 greens in regulation. She only needed 29 putts, bringing her total through three rounds to a terrific 81.
The footsteps following Katsu are loud though, as world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and No. 3 Minjee Lee are two strokes back in a tie for second place. Katsu will be paired with Lee and Thitikul in the final round.
Lee made nine birdies on her way to a -7 65 and her approach game looked like vintage Minjee, as she hit 17 greens in regulation. Thitikul was a bit more consistent, making six birdies without any dropped shots and hit every green in regulation.
The final round of The Buick LPGA Shanghai kicks off tonight.
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