Australia’s Minjee Lee lost ground late but remains in with a chance of another win at the LPGA Tour’s Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon today as her push toward the top five in the world rankings continued apace.
Lee, 22, has put together three superb rounds at 64-68-68 to be 16-under par, two shots from the lead held by England’s Georgia Hall through three rounds.
Already at a career-best No. 7 on the world rankings, the Perth superstar could potentially creep a little higher with a good finish tomorrow, and the chance of a second win for the season is right there.
Lee took the outright lead with a gorgeous wedge shot and a made birdie putt on the par four 11th hole today, but Hall rolled in her own birdie at the par-three 16th to regain a share of the lead.
The Western Australian then dropped a shot at the par-four 17th when her tee shot went left and behind a tree, forcing a chip-out, and Hall birdied to take a two-shot advantage. Lee made a tricky, two-metre putt to save par at the 18th to remain in contention.
Both winners of the VicOpen in the past few years, they will play together tomorrow with a big advantage over the rest of the field, with American Marina Alex at 12-under the closest pursuer.
Another Australian, Su Oh, is tied-26th at four-under after a 77 today.