Daytona Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Moriya Jutanugarn carded a 2-under 70 on
Saturday to maintain a 6-stroke advantage after four rounds of the LPGA Final
Qualifying Tournament.
Jutanugarn has completed 72 holes at 15-under 273 -- six strokes clear of
Ayako Uehara, who remained in second place with a fourth-round 70.
Rebecca Lee-Bentham (69) grabbed sole possession of third place at 8-under,
while Stephanie Sherlock (69) and Lisa McCloskey (67) moved into a tie for
fourth at minus-7.
This five-round tournament is entering its final day, where the top 40
finishers and ties will earn a tour card for next season. The top 20 players
at the event's conclusion will receive Priority in Category 12. If there is a
tie for 20th place, the final Category 12 spot will decided in a playoff.
All other ties will be broken on the basis of the lowest, most recent round at
the Final Qualifying Tournament. Players finishing in the 21st-45th spots will
earn Priority in Category 17.
After rotating the first four rounds on the Champions and Legends Courses at
LPGA International, the final round will be contested on the Champions Course.
Two-time LPGA Tour winner Laura Diaz (68), Chie Arimura (69) and Kelly Jacques
(70) are tied for sixth at 6-under, while amateur Marita Engzelius (71) and
Felicity Johnson (70) are knotted in ninth at minus-5.
Lacey Agnew (73), Meaghan Francella (69) and Karlin Beck (67), who entered the
day in 31st place, are tied for 11th at 4-under.
Jutanugarn played the Champions Course on Saturday. She began her second
straight bogey-free round on the 1st tee and moved to 1-under on the day with
a birdie on the par-4 eighth.
The 18-year-old then turned a similar trick her outward nine, parring seven
straight holes before gaining a shot on the par-3 17th. She rolled home a
par putt on the last to end with a comfortable advantage.
NOTES: Former U.S. Women's Open champion Birdie Kim failed to make Saturday's
cut ... She carded rounds 76, 78, 72 and 69 and finished at plus-7, which was
one above the cut line ... Australian Kristie Smith withdrew on Saturday.
The Sports Network