Wei-Ling Hsu started the third day of the LOTTE Championship in a tie for 52nd, setting out to make the most of every birdie opportunity there was to be had at Kapolei Golf Club. Hsu got off to a hot start, making two birdies in her first four holes, then turned up the heat by recording four straight from Nos. 6-7. From there, she knew the day was in her favor.
“I know this course that everyone can shot very low, and I believe I can do it, too. So I didn't really think about that much, especially when I make a turn with 6-under. Actually there is a couple birdie chance when I make a turn but I didn't make that putt,” said Hsu, who recorded a 63 to sit at -13 in a tie for ninth. “But it's just a little bit more like, Hey, focus. Don't think about like how low or how high I shot and I need a break that, my record. Because my record was 8-under and I was like, Okay, just be patient and then just give myself a chance to break that.”
Hsu’s back-nine was highlight by an eagle on the reachable par-5 17th. “So I just had a -- I think 210 to the front, which is like -- no, 200 to front and 210 to the pin, and then had a good my 4-woods into the green and it rolls a little bit further to the top and I made that 20-footer putting,” said Hsu.
Hsu has been getting back in the swing of things on the LPGA Tour. Before returning for the 2021 season, Hsu’s last event was the 2020 Gainbridge LPGA. Her highest finish through the first four events of the year is a T7 result at the Kia Classic. Though eight shots out of the lead heading into Saturday, Hsu is focused on carrying the momentum into hopefully another successful day.
“We're playing fast pace of play, and we got all afternoon. You can kind of relax because you just shot 9-under. You don't have to worry about too much,” said Hsu. “But there is something that my driver didn't go the way I really wanted to, so I'm -- I think I'm just going to practice a little bit driver and then just relax and have a nice drink. Not beer, but more like bubble tea.
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