Azahara Muñoz (-3) has been one of the standout players of the third round of the LPGA Tour Q-School Final. The golfer from Málaga delivered the third-best card of the day at the Crossings course in Alabama and has soared up the leaderboard. It was a remarkable performance. A round of 66 strokes, with seven birdies and a single bogey. She has moved into 20th place. For the first time this week, we have a Spaniard in the card positions. The top 25 and ties after the fifth day earn playing rights.
Azahara has reached her target thanks especially to an exceptional first nine holes. There were six flawless birdies for a score of 30 strokes. Majestic. She completed the second nine with a bogey and a birdie. She is now within her target and must maintain her position, although obviously, the key will be to keep aiming as high as possible.
Julia López (-1) is also in a fantastic position. Today she shot 69 at the Falls course and is just one stroke away from the top 25. The young golfer from Málaga, playing her first tournament as a professional, is gradually climbing up the leaderboard, slowly but surely. She knows there are still two rounds left and she is getting closer to her goal. Certainly, with her card today, with two flawless birdies, she has gained a splendid cushion to ensure she makes the cut, which will occur this Sunday with the top 70 and ties. Julia has a four-stroke margin.
Blanca Fernández (+1) struggled today at the Falls course. She started with two bogeys in the first three holes, making the round very challenging. She made another mistake on the 17th. Suddenly, from starting the day looking at the top 25, she had to focus on making the cut with the top 70. It was a dramatic change of scenario, but Blanca managed to dig deep and turned the situation around with two birdies on holes 2 and 3. She still had opportunities to level things with the course in the last six holes, but she lacked some precision with the putter. In any case, she is three strokes away from the top 25, fully in the fight, and has a two-stroke margin with the cut.
Carla Tejedo (+6) will need to bring her best game on Sunday to make a comeback, make the cut, and still have a chance to break into the top 25. She is three strokes away. The golfer from Castellón shot 73 today at the Crossings course. The best part is that she improved as the round went on, finishing strongly, which should fill her with energy for tomorrow’s round. She started with three bogeys in the first nine holes and managed to recover with three birdies from 1 to 8, showing the way for what she will need on Sunday to make the cut. She finished with a bogey, but she should focus on that stretch of three under in eight holes, the best of the entire week.
Chinese golfer Yu Lui (-14), despite signing for a par round, remains the clear leader of this final with a four-stroke advantage over a group of five players, including Belgian Manon de Roey, French Pauline Roussin, and Japanese Miyu Yamashita. At the lower end, Pernilla Lindberg (+4), a major winner, is currently outside the cut by one stroke.
