Sweden’s Linn Grant shot a blistering 9-under-par 62 on Saturday to take a commanding six-shot lead after three rounds of the Dana Open in Sylvania, Ohio.
The 24-year-old sits at 18-under 195, with five players tied for second at 12 under. Two players are seven shots off the lead in a tie for seventh.
In pursuit of her first win on the LPGA Tour, Grant put some distance between herself and the pack with an eagle and eight birdies against one bogey. She birdied four consecutive holes — Nos. 2-5 — to kick off her round. Then she holed out from 149 yards for eagle on No. 11.
“Well, yeah, obviously we had a delay in the middle of it pretty much,” said Grant, playing in her first Dana Open. “I was 4-under at the time. Had to go in. I wasn’t really feeling as confident as I would like to, but I found some good swings on the range and felt better going out after the delay. (Hole) 11 was amazing. Like, I hit a really good drive and a really good second shot, it just took one bounce pretty much and went in. I think it’s my first hole-out eagle probably. Just really cool.”
Grant finished two strokes shy of tying the 18-hole record and one stroke off tying the 54-hole record.
Second-round leader Annie Park shot an even-par 71 to sit in a tie for seventh with Australia’s Minjee Lee (67 on Saturday). Park had Friday’s low round, shooting a 63.
Stephanie Kyriacou of Australia fired a 65 to give herself a shot among a cadre of players at T2. She’s joined in the pack by Mexico’s Maria Fassi (67), Finland’s Matilda Castren (67), Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen (67) and Allisen Corpuz (68).
Kyriacou, also in search of her first win on tour, vaulted 18 spots up the leaderboard thanks to eight birdies against two bogeys.
“I think my putting has been pretty good,” Kyriacou said. “I actually changed putters for the first time in like 12 years, so it was either going to be really good or really bad. So I’m glad it was really good. But, yeah, I holed some nice putts, I’ve given myself some opportunities as well, which has been good but really converted them.”
Saturday’s third round was delayed four hours by rain.
–Field Level Media
