Rio Takeda is proving to be the most consistent player all week at the Blue Bay LPGA 2025. Literally. The Japanese player has signed her third consecutive round of 69 strokes today to move to the top of the tournament. She will face the decisive round with a two-stroke lead. No one is as consistent as Takeda, who is actually the player with the fewest bogeys all week, just four.
The Japanese player is debuting her rights on the LPGA this season after winning the TOTO Japan Classic at home a few months ago. The 21-year-old golfer has already achieved two top ten finishes this season. If she wins in Hainan, it would be her second victory in just six regular calendar tournaments, excluding Majors. Quite impressive.
Three players are chasing Rio. Two rookies and a second-year player. Cassie Porter and the Americans Auston Kim and Gigi Stoll. The Australian, who is only playing her second tournament on the circuit, remains very much in the fight. Porter admitted beforehand that she would be nervous playing this Saturday. And so it was, but her ability to turn the situation around speaks volumes about the golfer. Cassie was three over par after teeing off on the 15th hole. She made three consecutive birdies to finish, keeping her in the fight. The oceanic player is going to make waves.
Just behind and only three strokes from Takeda are two of the big favourites beforehand. Jeeno Thitikul (-7) and Minjee Lee (-6). Like last week, the Thai player struggled in the second round but has come back with a four-under-par round to get right back into contention. Jeeno hasn’t been out of the top ten in LPGA tournaments since August. This would be her tenth consecutive. The absolute record is held by Karrie Webb with 16.
Meanwhile, Lee also delivered a card of 68 strokes. She wants to repeat her victory in Hainan after her win in 2016. The Australian put on a show in this third round with two incredible eagles. It would be the eleventh victory on the circuit for Minjee. Tied with them is fellow Japanese player Ayake Furue, who is sure to impress.
The big collapse of the day was suffered by Nasa Hataoka, who started as a leader alongside Porter but delivered a card of 76 strokes and fell to fifteenth place, starting tomorrow six strokes behind Takeda.
