It’s a little bit of a different week for the LPGA, where the tour is holding its only team event on the schedule, the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.
There’s also a Saturday finish at Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan, this week, which gives those heading to France to the next major, the Amundi Evian Championship, an extra day for travel and preparation.
What was not different Friday was another low round for the team of Jennifer Kupcho and Lizette Salas, who had the best round of the day with a 6-under 64, which vaulted them into the outright lead by four shots after 54 holes at 17 under.
In Kupcho’s major win this season, at the Chevon Championship, she led by six heading into the final round.
“We were just out there playing, and I feel like that’s what we’re best at, is having fun together,” said Kupcho, aiming for her third victory this season. “I feel like we definitely did that today, and that’s how we were so calm in shooting that.”
Kupcho and Salas were one of six teams to post a stellar 61 on Thursday, a score only bested by the 59 shot by Sarah Jane Smith and Mariajo Uribe.
In solo second at 13 under, four shots back, is the team of Matilda Castren and Kelly Tan, who also shot a 61 on Thursday but settled for a 67 on Friday.
In third are the teams of Paulin Roussin and Dewi Weber, who led by three shots after two rounds but posted a 73 in the third round, as well as Tiffany Chan and Haeji Kang.
Karrie Webb and teammate Marina Alex are tied for fifth at 10 under along with A Lim Kim and Yealimi Noh and the team of Cheyenne Knight and Elizabeth Szokol, who shot a 4 under 66, the second-best Friday score.
Annika Sorenstam and Madelene Sagstrom, who co-led after 18 holes after a 65, stumbled to a 2-over 72 on Friday and sit in a tie for 18th.
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