Austin Ernst fired a three-under par 69 at the Drive On Championship on Saturday to grab the first 54-hole lead of her career and a one-shot cushion heading into Sunday’s final round. The 29-year-old American finished with four birdies and one bogey to reach 13-under 203 for a one stroke lead over second round co-leader Jennifer Kupcho in Ocala, Florida.
“I had to work a little bit harder than I have had to work the last couple days,” Ernst said. Kupcho, who is seeking her first LPGA win, made an eagle on her final hole for a one-under 70 to stand on 204 with a five-stroke gap to third place.
On a rainy day at the Golden Ocala course, Swiss Albane Valenzuela shared third after a bogey-free 66 that included six birdies. Patty Tavatanakit, with a 69, and American Jenny Coleman, with a 70, are also on 209.
Spain’s Carlotta Ciganda (75) and Danielle Kang (69) were a further two strokes back.
Ernst, chasing a third LPGA title, started her third round with two birdies in the first five holes. She chipped in for a birdie on the par-four ninth to move to 13-under for the tournament.
“I know I need to go play well,” Ernst said of the task awaiting Sunday. “I can’t not play well and win, so it’s going to be the same type stuff. I know what to expect. I’ve slept really well.”
Her only blemish of the round was a bogey on the par-four 10th, but she rebounded on the next hole with her fourth and final birdie of the day. Kupcho set the stage for her dynamic closing eagle with a fairway wood from 215 yards that just cleared the rocks and water fronting the green on the par-five 18th. “I actually was standing on the tee and I was like, ‘I feel an eagle coming on.’ So, it was pretty cool to do it,” Kupcho said.
“But when I got down there to the fairway I definitely didn’t think it would be possible to get it close and I was not aiming anywhere close to where my ball went, but it happened to go right at the pin and carried by a couple yards, carried the water by a couple yards, and ended up in a good spot.”
Laura Davies, the 57-year-old Hall of Famer, was four over after a 76. She’s playing on a World Golf Hall of Fame exemption.
Leading third-round scores
(USA unless noted, par-72)
203-Austin Ernst 67-67-69
204-Jennifer Kupcho 67-67-70
209-Albane Valenzuela (SUI) 70-73-66, Patty Tavatanakit (THA) 70-70-69, Jenny Coleman 70-69-70
211-Danielle Kang 72-70-69, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 71-65-75
212-Chun In-gee (KOR) 70-73-69, Brittany Altomare 70-73-69, Ashleigh Buhai (RSA) 70-70-72
213-Park Hee-young (KOR) 73-72-68, Jennifer Chang 73-71-69, Jessica Korda 69-75-69, Cheyenne Knight 71-70-72, Lydia Ko (NZL) 69-72-72, Leona Maguire (IRL) 69-71-73, Nelly Korda 67-70-76
Austin Ernst of the United States lines up a putt on the seventh hole during the third round of the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala Golf Club in Ocala, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
