Jeeno Thitikul managed a remarkable 7-under 65, overcoming strong winds and a double bogey to secure a one-shot lead over Celine Boutier at the Mizuho Americas Open. Defending champion Nelly Korda, who shot a 68, is two shots back. Thitikul emphasized patience and fairway accuracy as key strategies. Boutier made an impressive 40-foot birdie putt, finishing with a 66. Both Korda and Andrea Lee, who also shot a 68, are in contention. The final round is set for an earlier start, with expected changes in wind conditions that could impact scoring.
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Jeeno Thitikul navigated a strong wind and a double bogey at the turn, achieving nine birdies on Saturday for a brilliant 7-under 65, giving her a one-shot edge over Celine Boutier heading into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open.
Defending champion Nelly Korda missed several birdie chances on the back nine at Liberty National, finishing with a 68, leaving her just two shots behind as the top player in women’s golf aims for her first victory of the year.
The LPGA Tour adjusted several tees to accommodate gusts strong enough to sway flagsticks, especially on the final stretch. This resulted in exciting finishes as players set themselves up for the concluding round.
Thitikul, ranked No. 2 in women’s golf, capitalized on these conditions. She birdied the reachable par-4 16th, featuring water on the right, added another birdie on the 17th, and concluded at 14-under 202.
“The plan today was to stay on the fairway and then on the green,” Thitikul shared. “I anticipated a tough day, requiring patience. I’m not sure how it worked out, but I’ll take it.”
Boutier sank a 40-foot birdie putt from a ridge on the 15th, which sparked three consecutive birdies. She pared the 18th for a 66, finishing one shot behind.
“The setup today was great,” Boutier remarked. “The wind added a challenge, but the conditions allowed for some opportunities if you were hitting well.”
Korda attempted to keep pace with Thitikul, nailing a 15-foot birdie putt from just off the green at the par-3 14th, situated along the Hudson River opposite the Manhattan skyline. However, her drive on the 16th put her in a challenging position, forcing her to settle for par.
Utilizing the wind to her advantage, she skillfully landed her wedge within 4 feet for a birdie on the 17th, though her 15-foot putt on the 18th stayed on the high side of the hole.
“You need to focus intently on each shot, aiming for a precise target,” Korda noted regarding the challenging conditions, which included rain on Friday and wind on a clear Saturday. “Mistakes are inevitable, but I had a solid day.”
Andrea Lee also posted her third consecutive 68, joining Korda at 12-under 204. Yealimi Noh made an eagle chip on the 16th and shot 67, leaving her three shots back.
Thitikul, who began with a 64, followed up with a 73 and then surged forward amidst the strongest winds. She notched four birdies on the front nine but hit into a hazard on the par-4 sixth, incurring a double bogey.
No worries. She bounced back with two birdies to negate the mishap, starting the back nine with three birdies in four holes and maintaining her lead with two late birdies.
Starting times will be much earlier on Sunday for the Mizuho Americas Open to align with network television (CBS) for a 3 p.m. local time finish. The wind is expected to be lighter, although Boutier mentioned that could bring about a different set of challenges.
“It should be less windy. I’m anticipating lower scores as well,” Boutier noted. “We’ll see how it goes, but I’m delighted to be in this position.”