Charley Hull made the most of the so-called moving day at the AIG Women’s Open and closed the gap to first place by six strokes. The Englishwoman fired a third-round 66, climbing more than 20 spots on the leaderboard and entering the title race.
Hull’s performance included seven birdies and a bogey. The two-time LPGA Tour winner particularly shone on the front nine, where she carded five birdies and no bogeys.
In fact, this is Hull’s best round at the AIG Women’s Open in more than a decade. Her previous 66 came in the third round of the 2014 edition at Royal Birkdale.
“Really good [round],” Hull told the reporters after her performance. “Just made birdies when I gave myself an opportunity to make a birdie, apart from the last hole.” (She carded par on the 18th.)
The European star was pleased with the result, saying she likes the situation she’s in.
“I just kind of enjoy chasing,” she said. “It’s quite fun. I like it. It’s more fun that way. I like hunting someone down. It was good fun, and see what she (Miyu Yamashita, the current leader) does this afternoon and just focus again tomorrow.”
Hull is trying to win her first major championship, or at least clinch her second career top-10 finish at the AIG Women’s Open. She co-led the event at Walton Heath two years ago, but couldn’t find her best golf in the final round and finished second, six strokes behind winner Lilia Vu.
However, the 29-year-old wasn’t the only one to make a significant jump on the leaderboard. A Lim Kim (5-under for the round), Andrea Lee (5-under), Minami Katsu (7-under), and Megan Khang (4-under) all climbed to within four shots of the leader.
The situation was very different for World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who dropped more than 20 spots on the leaderboard after carding 2-over for the round. Korda is now tied for 36th with a 54-hole score of even par.
Yamashita remains in the lead amid her rookie season on the LPGA Tour, having won the Q-School last December. She won eight tournaments on the Japanese professional tour before heading to America.
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