| -14 C Boutier (Fra); N Hataoka (Jp), J Young Ko (Kor), N Korda (United States); -13 G Lopez, M Harigae (United States); -12 L Maguire (Ireland), N Koerstz Madsen (Den), L Thompson (United States); -11 M Khang (United States), J Lee6 (Korea), M Lee (Australia) |
| Others selected: -10 G Hall (English); –9 In Nordqvist (Sweden); -7 L Kb (NZ); -5 C Hull (Eng) |
| Full ranking |
Ireland’s Leona Maguire came within two shots of the LPGA end-of-season championship leaders after shooting six-under-66 in the third round.
Maguire shares seventh place out of 12 months as world number one Nelly Korda leads alongside Jin Young Ko, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Céline Boutier.
The winner of the event will take home a top prize of just over £ 1.1million.
The French Boutier led by four on the night, but only managed to achieve a par 72 level in Florida on Saturday.
Maguire, 26, started Matchday 8 late, but his clear six bird run pushed European Cup star Solheim into a serious contention for a first LPGA victory.
Cavan’s wife headed to this week’s event 17th in the LPGA standings after an impressive season that included two finalists in addition to a stunning Solheim Cup debut as Europe retained the trophy at the United States.
Japan’s Hataoka hit the round of the day as her 64 saw her take the lead in the standings.
World number one Korda stayed on track to win the LPGA Player of the Year award ahead of Jin Young Ko as his 67 started out on top with Korean plus Boutier and Hataoka.
Ko, who has fought for the world number one spot all season with Korda, started the week needing to make the top two, with the American finishing outside the top nine so she could win. the title of player of the year.
However, Olympic champion Korda’s continued consistency means she looks set to hold onto the top spot.
The four leaders are one step ahead of Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and American Mina Harigae, with Maguire sharing seventh place alongside her European Solheim Cup teammate Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Lexi Thompson.
Former British Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall will enter the fourth final round after scoring a 71 on Saturday with compatriot Charley Hull adrift after her 67 after a damaging 75 on Friday.
