Lindy Duncan navigated cold and blustery conditions at The Annika to secure a one-shot lead heading into the final round.
She carded a 1-under 69 on Saturday, marking a bogey-free performance that left her at 13-under 197, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Duncan, who is making her 222nd career start without a win, described the difficult nature of the weather during the tournament.
“Today was a really tough day with the wind,” Duncan said.
She noted that she focused on finding spots to keep the ball on the green or allow for manageable chips as the surface firmed up.
Hye-Jin Choi, who shared the lead earlier, slipped back after a bogey on the 18th hole, finishing with a 70.
Carlota Ciganda also struggled on the closing hole, three-putting to fall out of the lead, an error that Duncan noted helped her own approach.
“I also thought she hit it a lot harder and it didn’t go that far past, so I definitely think seeing her putt helped make mine a little easier,” Duncan remarked.
Yuri Yoshida sits two shots back after a 67, while Ina Yoon is three shots behind the leader.
Haeran Ryo surged into contention with a Saturday-low 65, placing her four shots off the lead.
Nelly Korda, who aims for a Hall of Fame qualification with a victory, finished with a 71 and remains six shots behind.
Korda experienced a difficult round that included a double bogey on the sixth hole.
Duncan is currently not qualified for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship and views a strong finish as a path to entry.
The field faces one final day of play at Pelican Golf Club, where greens have served as the primary defense against low scores.
Choi remains focused on the task ahead, stating, “I’m just going to try to concentrate to the end.”
Additional coverage of the event can be found via AP’s full golf coverage.