MANILA, Philippines – Cyna Rodriguez failed to check her skid and stumbled to a horrible 78, falling way behind joint leaders Anne Nordqvist of Sweden and Britain’s Charley Hull in the third round of the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in Bahamas Saturday.
Rodriguez crumbled in the windy backside of the Paradise Island course and hobbled with a six-over 43 marked by a double-bogey on the par-4 16th, blowing away an inspiring one-under 35 start and falling way down the 80-player field which survived the cut Friday.
The Filipina shotmaker pooled a 225 and stood 18 shots off Nordqvist and Hull, who shot 68 and 69, respectively, to share the lead at 207. The leaders were one shot over Stacy Lewis of the US and Koreans Hyo Joo Kim and Sei Young Kim, who fired 67 and 68, respectively, for 208s.
Another Korean Ilhee Lee carded one of the day’s best 66 to tie American Megan Khang, who turned in a 71, at 209, just two off the pace heading to the final round of the $1.4 million championship, the kickoff leg of this year’s LPGA Tour.
Rodrguez, who shot an impressive 70 in her first foray on the world’s biggest women’s golf stage, appeared headed for a big rebound from her 77 in the second round as she birdied No. 2, dropped a shot on the par-5 seventh which she eagled in the first two days, but recovered with another birdie on the eighth.
But she wavered in tough conditions at the back, bogeying Nos. 11 and 12 and dropping four more shots from No. 15 to 17.