Ryu fires another 64 to lead LPGA NW Arkansas Championship
WASHINGTON, United States -- South Korean rookie Ryu Hae-ran fired a second straight bogey-free seven-under par 64 to grab a two-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship.
The 22-year-old world number 37 stood on 14-under 128 after 36 holes in the 54-hole event at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.
"I can't hit a bogey these two rounds and I'm so happy," Ryu said. "This week my shot is so perfect.
"I think it's the first time I hit a 60-score (twice) in a row and I want to try one more round."
Japanese rookie Yuna Nishimura also fired a 64 to share second on 130 with Australian Hannah Green. South Korea's Jenny Shin was third on 131 with compatriot Kim Sei-young another stroke adrift.
Ryu, a five-time winner on the Korean LPGA tour and LPGA Q-school medalist, has five top-10 finishes this year, including eighth at the US Women's Open at Pebble Beach.
She birdied the par-3 11th hole and added another at the par-5 18th to close her first nine, then reeled off four consecutive birdies from the par-3 third through the par-3 sixth holes and concluded her round with a birdie at the par-4 ninth.
"Today on the first nine holes my shot is so perfect but I can't make birdie, I can't focus on my putts. Always I miss the cup," Ryu said. "First nine holes my putt is going off to the right."
But the rookie revived her form after her birdie at 18.
"OK, I have more chance and I have more holes left," Ryu told herself. "Yeah, it was more confidence after nine holes that I can make so many birdies, and I got it."
Nishimura, 23, started on the back nine and birdied four of her first five holes then birdied four of the first six on her second nine before a bogey at the eighth dropped her two off the pace.
Nishimura's only top-15 result in 22 prior LPGA starts was a fourth-place showing in last year's Japan Classic.
World number 24 Green, the 2019 Women's PGA Championship winner, captured her third LPGA title in April at the LA Championship.
The 26-year-old from Perth closed with back-to-back birdies to shoot a bogey-free 65.
"Really happy with today's round because it felt kind of flat through the middle there, and then it was nice to
