Colombian Paola in lead at ‘shortened’ golf meet
Paola Moreno is blocking out everything about this strange week except for the next shot. She wound up with another bogey-free round on the shortened course on Saturday and took the lead into the final round of the Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Moreno made a couple of 25-foot birdie putts and added two more birdies for a 4-under 41. The Colombian had a one-shot lead over Lindsey Wright, who made seven birdies for a 7-under 38.
“I am just focused on what I can control right now,” said Moreno, who was at 9-under 81. “The only thing that matters right now is the first tee shot on no. 1 — or no. 10, whatever hole we’re playing tomorrow. And I’m just excited to be there.”
Cristie Kerr did enough to at least get in range. She was among 10 players within three shots of the lead, though they have six fewer holes to make up ground.
Because of severe flooding earlier in the week on the Ocean Club course, the LPGA Tour is using the holes available. In this case, it’s a 12-hole course that starts on the back nine at no. 10, jumps over to the front nine for four holes that are out of order, heads over to a stretch on the back nine and finishes along the ocean at no. 8.
The final round now goes from a par 45 to a par 47.
The par-5 18th hole is in good enough shape to be playing as the closing hole, giving this inaugural event at least some semblance of normality. It will replace no. 4, which also is a par 5 but has been played as a par 3 because of a bunker caved in by the rain.
It was critical for all the players to finish two rounds (24 holes) going into the final round or it would have been unlikely to complete 36 holes by Sunday to make this official.
Stacy Lewis, the world no. 2 player, was trying to get close to the leaders and isn’t sure she did enough. Two late birdies gave her a 3-under 42, though she was five shots behind.
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