Thai player Ariya Jutanugarn takes third-round lead at Women’s British Open

Ariya Jutanugarn shot a bogey-free 66 on Saturday to take the third-round lead at the RICOH Women’s British Open, while Lee-Anne Pace leapfrogged Ashleigh Simon to lead the South African charge at Woburn Golf Club in Milton Keyes, England.

But true to her word that she’d learnt her lesson, the 20-year-old steadied for her fourth LPGA Tour title of the season and played the closing five holes in one under par to topple Lee by three at 16 under, with 2014 champ Mo Martin a shot further back in third.

Ariya, who was only 11 when she appeared in her first LPGA Tour event, started Sunday’s back nine with a four-shot lead. She finished at 16-under 272 on the hilly, tree-filled Marquess course – a big change from the usual seaside layouts in the British Open rotation.

American Martin, who parred the last 10 holes, also closed to within two shots of the lead, but Jutanugarn responded with a birdie at the 17th to move two shots clear with one to play and made par at the last to secure the title, while Lee dropped a shot to finish tied for second.

“It was hard today, I felt a little bit nervous at times”, she said after picking up the first prize of 310,838 pounds ($411,238). She chipped in from 90 feet for birdie on No. 8 and made a 30-footer on 10. On Friday, Jaeger broke the 36-hole mark at 123 and, at 17 under, was two strokes off the record for relation to par. Lydia Ko won the ANA Inspiration at 18 in April, the same age as Brooke Henderson when she took the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in May. “I knew when I missed all the cuts that I was only 19 and I had plenty of time”.

“I think it’s no pressure for me because the only thing I want is to have fun, so one more day I want to have fun”, she said.

“A lot will depend on how May plays tomorrow, but if I can go out and shoot a low number you never know”, she said.

Jutanugarn rebounded in a breakthrough May, running off the three straight victories to become the LPGA Tour’s first Thai champion.

“On 13, I’m like, “Oh, what’s wrong with me, ‘” Jutanugarn said”. After that hole I was a bit nervous but I tried to commit to every shot and not to worry about anything else. She will return to Thailand briefly before competing in the Rio Olympics. “I can’t wait. I’m really excited about that”. Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Arkansas Razorbacks) tied for 36th at 9 under, good enough for $2,660, while Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks) was two strokes behind that in a tie for 49th and won $1,725.

Lewis also is a past champion, winning at St. Andrews in 2013.

DIVOTS: Jutanugarn’s older sister, Moriya, had a 75 to tie for 43rd at 3 over….