▲ An Na-rin
An Na-rin has climbed to sole fourth place in the third round of the LPGA Tour's Standard Portland Classic (total purse of $2 million) after cutting six strokes in a single day.
An shot 6-under 66 with eight birdies and two bogeys in the third round held at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club (par 72) in Portland, Oregon, on the 16th (KST), bringing her three-round total to 13-under 203.
Moving up from a tie for 17th to solo fourth, An trails co-leaders Špela Schubert (USA) and Arpichaya Yubol (Thailand, both at 16-under 200) by three strokes, setting her up to contend for her first tour victory in the final round on the 17th.
Having joined the LPGA Tour in 2022, An has yet to lift a championship trophy, with her career-best finish being a runner-up result at this tournament in August 2024.
This season has been sluggish for her, having missed the cut in four of her 10 tournament appearances and failing to crack the top 20 even once.
However, powered by sharp shot-making and putting on this day, An dramatically raised her ranking.
Though she had a shaky start with a bogey on the 1st hole (par 4), she turned the momentum around by sinking three consecutive birdies starting from the 2nd hole (par 3).
She continued her upward trend by adding birdies on the 7th hole (par 5), 10th hole (par 5), and 13th hole (par 3).
On the 15th hole (par 4), she suffered her second bogey of the day amid bad luck when a short par putt rimmed the cup.
She quickly bounced back, however, by sinking a downhill birdie putt of over 10 meters on the 16th hole (par 3).
She wrapped up the day on a high note by carding a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 4).
Jeon Ji-won kept a clean card with six birdies to shoot a 6-under 66, bringing her three-round total to 12-under 204 to tie for fifth place.
Choi Un-jung also shaved five strokes off her score to join the tie for fifth.
Joo Su-bin reduced her score by four strokes to finish at 11-under 205, tying for 11th.
On the other hand, Choi Hye-jin, who had been tied for second through the second round, dropped to a tie for 11th after managing only an even-par 72 with one birdie and one bogey.
Lee So-mi, who lowered her score by five strokes on this day, recorded a 9-under 207 to tie for 22nd.
World No. 3 Yoo Hae-ran, who secured two major titles this season, shot an even-par 72, sliding from a tie for fifth down to a tie for 22nd.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand) stands alone in third place at 14-under 202, while Minami Katsu, Erika Hara (both from Japan), Chanettee Wannasaen (Thailand), and Manon De Roey (Belgium) share fifth place at 12-under 204.
(Photo: Getty Images)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.