WASHINGTON (AFP) – Lexi Thompson, seeking her first win of the season, fired a two-under par 69 Saturday to maintain her lead after the third round of the LPGA Kingsmill Championship.
The American stands on 14-under 199 after 54 holes for a three-stroke edge over a crowded leaderboard that comprises a United Nations mix of elite women golfers.
South Korea’s Chun In-Gee is second after shooting a 67 to reach 202.
Thompson had three birdies and made bogey on the par-3 17th for the second time this week. She doesn’t plan on making any big changes for Sunday’s final round.
‘‘I have to have the same mindset I had the last three days,’’ said the daredevil Thompson, who arrived on the course for the start of Wednesday’s pro-am round by parachuting out of a airplane.
World number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand fired a 70 to join Australian Lee Min-Jee (67) and South Korea’s Kim Sei-Young (66) in third, five shots adrift of Thompson.
Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom (68), China’s Feng Shanshan (70) and American Danielle Kang (69) share sixth at seven-under 206. American Gerina Piller, Karine Icher of France and South Korean-born Aussie Oh Su-Hyun are among five players tied for ninth at 207.
