Three rounds are in the books at the Scottish Open, and first-time professional Lottie Woad continues to stay in firm control, searching for her first LPGA Tour title.
Woad entered the day with a two-stroke lead, and it stayed that way through this third round as she heads into the last day two strokes up over Sei Young Kim and Nanna Koerstz Madsen. Woad continued her phenomenal July once again, showing her prowess on links golf.
Woad started a bit slow with four pars to begin her round, but once again it all clicked into place by hole five. Woad made birdies on 5, 7 and 8, then added another on 10 after making the turn. Her round was a bit more volatile down the stretch, with birdies on 14 and 17 but a bogey on 16 and a mediocre par on the par 5 18th.
Woad has the opportunity to be just the third player to win her LPGA Tour professional debut in the last 72 years. In her last three starts she has finished in first and third against top flight competition. There is no player in better form than her.
Sei Young Kim was the story of the day, showing off the ability to go super low that she excels at perhaps better than anybody on Tour. Kim made five birdies, one eagle and only had a single dropped shot. Kim is looking for her 13th title of her career and her first since November of 2020, the year she won LPGA Tour player of the year.
Nelly Korda did a good job of surviving but not necessarily thriving. Her ball striking was a bit all over the place with just 8 fairways hit and 13 greens in regulation. Her misses were bad too, but she did a fantastic job of making pars because of some miraculous recovery shots and some great putting. Korda shot -2 for the day with two birdies and no dropped shots, she sits five strokes back.
The final round of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open kicks off tomorrow at 7:00 Eastern Time on NBC Sports Digital, and beginning at 9:00 Eastern Time it will begin live TV coverage on CNBC.
