CHON BURI: Rookie Natthakritta Vongtaveelap birdied her last three holes on Saturday to open up a four-shot lead over compatriot Atthaya Thitikul heading into the final round of the Honda LPGA Thailand tournament in Pattaya.
Both young Thai stars went eight under par as the world’s best golfers staged another birdie-fest at the Old Course at Siam Country Club. When the dust settled, Natthakritta was 20 under par for three rounds and Atthaya was 16 under.
Eight under par wasn’t even the best round of the day. Paula Reto of South Africa went 9 under but that only brought her back to 6 under for the tournament.
World No.4 Atthaya, who won twice on the LPGA Tour last year, is alone in second place, one shot ahead of Celine Boutier of France.
Sitting at 14 under are 2014 champion Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, first-round co-leader Maja Stark of Sweden and Lilia Vu of the United States. Lurking another shot back is world No.1 Lydia Ko, along with No.2 Nelly Korda of the US, Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa and Kim Hyo-joo of South Korea.
Playing on a sponsor’s exemption after winning a national qualifier, Natthakritta knows how it feels to win in Thailand, but Sunday will be the biggest test so far for the 20-year-old currently ranked 470th in the world.
Natthakritta is a two-time winner of the Singha Thailand Amateur Open (2021, 2022) and won the 2021 Singha Thailand Ladies Amateur Open.
On the cusp of what could be her first major professional victory in her first-ever LPGA tournament, Natthakritta told reporters she had dreamed about winning a title since childhood and hoped the enthusiastic local crowd would help push her over the line.
“Today was very big, but I (think) tomorrow will be bigger,” she said. (It will be) good to play with a friend. I haven’t played with (Atthaya) for a long time.”
Atthaya was happy with her 64 and ready to give it her all in the final round.
“I have more confidence today,” the Ratchaburi native said, adding that she felt in the zone on the course and was not overthinking her game. “I think my mental (game) today is pretty good. Also, I’ve been performing really well with ball-striking and when I hit it solid like today, it gives me a chance to make birdie.”
Ko, who has been in red-hot form, is seven shots off the lead and said that staying patient would be the key on the final day.
“It was obviously a little bit difficult today with the wind being a little bit breezier,” she said. “I’m just going to stick to my own game plan (on Sunday).”
It was a topsy-turvy day for Korda, with an eagle and six birdies but five bogies littering her score sheet.
“The bad was very bad today and then the good was pretty good, so I had a nice combo of both,” the 24-year-old said.
Among the other Thai competitors, veteran Pornanong Phatlum is at 11 under par, first-round co-leader Jaravee Boonchant is at 8 under, Moriya Jutanugarn is at 6 under and 2021 champion Ariya Jutanugarn is at 4 under.
Wichanee Meechai and Pajaree Anannarukarn ended the day at 1 under, while Chanettee Wannasaen and Arpichaya Yubol finished at even par and Patty Tavatanakit was 1 over.
