Nelly Korda made her move Saturday at Shadow Creek Golf Course, shooting a 3-under 69 to climb into solo second place at the LPGA Aramco Championship. She trails leader Lauren Coughlin by two shots heading into the final round.
Coughlin, who started the day with a five-stroke advantage, struggled to a 1-over 73 but still holds the lead at 7-under par. The 33-year-old from Charlottesville, Virginia, is seeking her first win since 2024 and the third of her career.
“I felt like I did a pretty good job today of at least getting in spots, and if I did get a little out (of position), making sure I walked away with no worse than bogey,” Coughlin said. “It’s going to be really hard (Sunday), so just going to see how goes.”
Shadow Creek proved difficult again, with only five players under par for the tournament after 10 began the round in red numbers. Coughlin made an early birdie on No. 11 but dropped shots on Nos. 13 and 14. She saved par on the tough 15th hole and birdied the par-5 18th to rebuild some cushion.
“I definitely think it was huge in kind of just getting any kind of momentum going into the last few holes because it was so start-stop in the middle of that back nine,” Coughlin said of the par save on 15. “It was huge to make that putt. I kind of did the similar thing (Friday) and didn’t make the putt.”
Korda, the world No. 2, was bogey-free through 14 holes before a miscue on No. 15. She responded with birdies on 17 and 18 to join the final pairing for the third straight Sunday. She is chasing her second title of the season after runner-up finishes the past two weeks.
“I’m just playing really good golf,” Korda said. “I have always worked really, really hard, but I’m proud of the work that I’ve put in the past few weeks when I had off and didn’t go to Asia when the tour was there. I just feel refreshed, happy. I’m excited to compete.”
Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Miyu Yamashita are tied for third at 3 under after rounds of 71. Koerstz Madsen carded four birdies and three bogeys, while Yamashita, the 2025 Women’s British Open champion, had four birdies but three bogeys on the back nine. Both remain within striking distance.
“If I can just accept the couple mistakes I make and then hopefully make a lot of birdies and some good shots too, then I will see where I end up tomorrow,” Koerstz Madsen said.
The final round begins Sunday at 1:05 p.m., with Korda and Coughlin in the last group.
