Experience and consistency are keys to success on the LPGA. For Jasmine Suwannapura and Cydney Clanton, the experience part — at least in terms of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational — is something they’ve got firmly in their back pocket, as the duo still holds the title of reigning champs at the team event in Midland, Michigan.
And through three rounds, the pair certainly has shown consistency. On Friday, Suwannapura and Clanton posted their third straight 65 and while other teams ebbed and flowed, Team All In stayed the course in jumping to a tie for the lead with Pajaree Anannarukarn and Aditi Ashok. Carlota Ciganda and Mel Reid are a stroke behind heading into the final day of play at Midland Country Club.
“I think we stayed pretty patient. I don’t think just because we win two years ago it doesn’t mean that the golf course was easy. Doesn’t mean that we’re going to be able to play some good golf,” Suwannapura said. “It’s just golf. Like we just stay patient and find opportunities for ourselves to make birdies and have fun with each other.”
There’s plenty at stake on Saturday as eight different teams are within five shots of the lead at 10 under, including the sister duo of Jessica and Nelly Korda. A string of four straight birdies on the front helped the Kordas finish with a 66. Among the teams also at 10 under are Minjee Lee/Yuka Saso, Maria Fassi/Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lang/Brittany Lincicome.
Lincicome said she’s eager to get the final round started and feels like her team can make a run.
“Absolutely. Two balls in play, two looks at birdie on every hole, and I think you’re less afraid to mess up then when it’s not alternate-shot. So we’ll be a little bit more free tomorrow, and hopefully we’ll just start rolling them in,” she said. “Having all these fans, too. It’s so great to hear them cheering for us and rooting us on. We haven’t had that in so long, so we can’t thank them enough for coming out and supporting.”
For Suwannapura and Clanton the Dow defense has been an impressive one. While the pair ran away with the title in 2019 — the event wasn’t held last year due to the pandemic — this year’s tournament has been more taxing, yet they’re still in position to win.
“I think it would be really special. There’s so many good memories, especially for me in this situation in 2018. But to come back and play good again, and I feel like we’ve grinded all week, I feel that 2019 felt a little bit easier than this week. I feel like we’ve grinded really hard,” Clanton said. “So that’s what the goal is. The goal is to grind. All of us want to win, and so it would be really cool to do it two times in a row.
“I think we’d probably be speechless tomorrow to be honest with you. I’m sure all the emotions will come, but can’t really worry about tomorrow until tomorrow.”
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