(West Lake Sammamish) Amy Yang shot a 1-under 71 to give herself a two-shot lead at the top of the Women’s PGA Championship leaderboard on Saturday.
Yang, who is still looking for her first major title on the LPGA Tour, has a cumulative score of minus-7 after three rounds at the Sahalee Golf Club. The 34-year-old South Korean has five career LPGA victories, most recently in November at the Women’s Tour Championship.
Lauren Hartlage and Miyu Yamashita are tied for second place.
Hartlage had a second straight round of 69 and was bogey-free. The American has yet to win in three seasons on the LPGA.
Yamashita finished the course in 70 for the second day in a row. She has recorded 11 triumphs on the Japanese circuit.
American Sarah Schmelzel, who shared the tournament lead with Yang after the second round, shot a 74 to slip alone into fourth place, at 4 under.
Lexi Thompson, the leader after the first round, brought home a card of 73 and she shares fifth place with Lilia Vu (68), Caroline Inglis (69), Jin Young (73) and Hinako Shibuno (73). They are four shots behind Yang.
Ontarian Brooke Henderson, the only Canadian to take part in the weekend’s rounds, shot a 73 to find herself tied for 25th at plus-2.
The 29-year-old Thompson recently announced that this would be her final career season with a full schedule. Last week, in Michigan, she lost in overtime to Vu at the Meijer Classic.
On Saturday, Vu had the best round of the day.
Yang went 39 holes without making a bogey before making one on the eighth hole. She pulled herself together by making a birdie at the ninth flag to take control.
Yang extended her lead to two shots when she birdied the 11th hole. She made bogey at the 16th before responding with a long birdie at the 17th.
