GARDEN CITY, KANSAS, September 10, 2016 - Dana Finkelstein (Chandler, Ariz.) chipped in for birdie on the par-4 tenth and carded a 2-under, 70 on Saturday to build a five-shot 54-hole lead at 10-under, 206. Finkelstein, who has been at the top of the leaderboard since a 7-under, 65 to open on Thursday, will go for her first Epson Tour win on Sunday. Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ontario) posted a 1-under, 71 to stand in second at 5-under, 211. Brittany Benvenuto (Langhorne, Pa.) and Wichanee Meechai (Bangkok, Thailand) are in a tie for third at 4-under, 212.
The final-round begins at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday and the leaders will tee at 1:00 p.m. in twosomes.
Finkelstein started with five pars and then made a birdie on six and a bogey on eight. At that point, Marchand was 2-under for the day and two shots back. She trimmed the gap to one with a long birdie putt on 9.
The big moment in the round came on 10 when Finkelstein chipped in for birdie.
“The chip in on ten was crucial and I made a good putt on 11 and a good save on 12 and that really kept my round going,” explained Finkelstein. “I hit my drive left and in the rough on ten and my approach was short. The only thing going through my head was that my chipping statistics were horrible so I was like ‘let’s just chip one in’ and it went in so that was fun.”
The lead grew to four shots on 11 when Finkelstein made birdie and Marchand made bogey. Marchand, who was hot on the front nine, made bogeys on 14 and 18 coming in while Finkelstein made par on the final seven holes.
Finkelstein had an 8-footer for birdie on 18 to extend the lead to six, but made par.
“That birdie would have been nice, but I’ll take a 2-under because it was not my best and I had to scramble,” said Finkelstein. “I’m feeling a little better playing in final groups so I think I’ll take it hole-by-hole tomorrow.”
Finkelstein has six top 10 finishes, but no wins. She ranks 13th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. This is the first time Finkelstein will hold the lead into the final-round.
Meanwhile, Marchand will play in the final group for the first time this year.
“I’ll have the attitude where I have nothing to lose and really go for it,” said Marchand. “It’ll be a good experience to play in the last group so I am excited.”
Marchand said she was saved by her putter on Saturday and she’ll have to correct her ball striking for the final-round.
“Putting definitely saved me today so I’ll have to straighten some things out,” said Marchand. “I also need to have better tempo and keep my putter going the way it was.”
NAGEL SHOOTS 8-UNDER ON DAY COMBINING BOTH ROUNDS
Liz Nagel (DeWitt, Mich.) carded a bogey-free 5-under, 67 in the third-round to jump from T31 to T7. When Nagel came to the course to continue round two this morning she was 6-over and firmly on the cut line. She played the final eight holes of her second-round in 3-under.“With all the different elements this week, all the different weather, we’ve been working on staying as neutral as possible,” said Nagel, who has done pre-round meditation this week. “I had a couple long putts go in which was nice, but I really stayed focused all day.”
Nagel hurt her back earlier in the season and was forced to take some events off. She has played predominantly on the Epson Tour (13 starts), but has also made three starts on the LPGA.
“I’ve been a bit all over the place and I’m looking for some consistency,” said Nagel. “I definitely wanted to play better coming down the stretch so this feels good.”
Nagel will spend the rest of the season gearing up for Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
During the week of the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout, Nagel’s DeWitt High School state championship team will be inducted into the school’s hall-of-fame. Nagel was inducted into the school’s hall-of-fame as an individual last year.
“My brother is the quarterback of the football team and we’re playing our rival so I’m torn about going to Arkansas or going home,” said Nagel, who is leaning towards going to the ceremony. “Since I’m not really sniffing the top 10, I’ll probably go watch him play and participate in the ceremony.”
Nagel also won the individual state championship as a sophomore and junior.
OF NOTE
- Shannon Fish (Spring, Texas) carded a 4-under, 68 to move from T36 to T14.
- Thirteen players in the top 25 on the money list are T25 or better heading into the final-round.
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