Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Las Colinas, TX–
In a day where the LPGA moved up the tee times for impending storms in the late afternoon, some players didn’t to mind the breezy conditions, that included Haru Normura, who dropped a 1-over 72 for a 205 score after 54 holes to keep the lead.
“I like windy, and tough conditions from fairway to green, yeah, I love it,” Nomura said without the need of an interpreter. “Wind was coming right-to-left, so I tried right side and let it come to the pin.”
One the players to tee off early on Saturday was Stacy Lewis, who said things were a little bit challenging, but liked her chances going into Sunday.
Lewis, who was tied for 44th when she started at 7:26 a.m., shot a 5-under 66 for the best round of the day. She was one of just six players to shoot under par in the third round.
“I was excited about the early tee time because I knew getting out earlier would be an advantage to post a number and just see what happens,” said Lewis, who started at the 10th hole and had a bogey-free round with three birdies by the turn. “I got off to a good start on my first nine holes and kind of really kept things going from there.
“But it’s playing really hard out there, and you just have to be really patient.”
As many who follow the LPGA Tour, you will know that Nomura is no stranger to leading in tournaments and she expects Sunday to be no different.
This is the third time Nomura has had a 54-hole lead. She won the other two times, at the 2016 ISPS Honda Australian Open and 2016 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.