Henderson leads the pack, So Yeon Ryu makes a comeback

Talented Canadian Major champion (LPGA Championship 2016) Brooke M. Henderson has maintained her overnight lead in The Amundi Evian Championship 2022.

With an overall score of 17 under par (64, 64, 68), she heads into tomorrow afternoon alone at the top of the leaderboard. The world number 10 managed Moving Day perfectly and remained calm and collected despite a bogey on the first hole after a missed drive forced her to refocus. She quickly got back into the round with a series of great shots on the second and landing on the green at the third, right at the foot of the pin.

Once again her ability to stay patient and serene throughout the round shone through, the glitch at the first hole remaining her only bogey of the day. The new pin positions did prove challenging however. In true Moving Day style, the tournament teams have forced the best players on the planet to dig deep and tackle a considerably more demanding course than on the first two days of play. This Sunday sees the Smiths Falls (Ontario) native with a chance to win her second Grand Slam title.

Running close behind, another former majors champion is determined to catch the Canadian and lift the much-coveted trophy tomorrow evening. Experienced player So Yeon Ryu lies in second position at the close of day 3 thanks to her consistency across the week. After a first round of 67 (-4), she shot 66 (-5) yesterday and carded 65 (-6) today, leaving her with a total of 15 under par tonight. Brimming with confidence, the 32-year-old South Korean who has not won since summer 2020, has hit full form. Double Grand Slam winner (US Women’s Open 2011 and ANA Inspiration 2017) So Yeon Ryu is once again heading into the final round of a major tournament, this time alongside Brooke M. Henderson and Sophia Schubert (USA) who completes the potential podium line-up with a total of -13. The former University of Texas student will finally experience the atmosphere and feel of a Grand Slam final round. Her best result in a major tournament to date is 58th here at Evian 5 years ago.

Valenzuela gets back on track, I.G. Chun likewise

The 24-year-old Swiss player was back on form for moving day in Evian. With a score of 64 (-7), Albane Valenzuela (SUI) got back on track and shot the best round of the day by mid-afternoon. The 2019 LPGA Tour rookie took control of her destiny and got the game rolling very early in her day with a first birdie at hole 3, followed by another at hole 4. She continued her spectacular comeback to be on 7-under on the 13th tee. The rest of her round was less eventful and she finished off with that score. After two rounds of 70 (-1) and then69 (-3), she is now 11th in the standings as a result of her remarkable performance of the day.

On -10 overall, she will share tomorrow's round with former event winner Lydia Ko (NZL) and rising women's golf star Atthaya Thitikul (THA). They will start three groups behind the leading group.

In Gee Chun (KOR) also excelled on Saturday. The 2016 winner is currently ranked 11th in the world and is back in contention after a Friday on uncertain waters (72; +1 yesterday). She carded a bogey-free 66 (-5) this afternoon and will start her final round in 15th place. The South Korean is part of a group of seven players who are all at -8 overall this evening. Japan's Ayaka Furue, who posted the best card of the week (63; -8), is one shot back on -7 overall after two rounds of 72 (+1) and 71 (par).

Snippets of news

- The world number 1 amateur Rose Zhang (USA) had a turbulent Saturday. Her round of 74 (+3) sees her pushed back to 58h place, three shots behind the American Rachel Heck, the top-placed amateur after shooting 68 (-3) today.

- The best French player of the week, Perrine Delacour (FRA) got through the day without either any problems or any strokes of genius. Her round included two birdies and a bogey to total 70 (-1) and she finds herself in 13th place (-9 overall). As for the other French players, Agathe Laisné carded 76 (+5) today, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard 73 (+2).

- The world number 9 and winner of the most recent The Chevron Championship Jennifer Kupcho (USA) imitated Switzerland's Albane Valenzuela by returning to the clubhouse with a 64 (-7), the day’s best score.

- Jin-Young Ko (KOR) is still in with a chance. The world number 1 is just six shots off the leader and four behind the player in second place. If she has a good day tomorrow, the trophy is within her sights. She is 6th (aggregate score of -11), as is Hyo-Joo Kim (KOR) and Nelly Korda (USA).

- The winner here last year, Australia's Minjee Lee will no doubt have to settle for a place of honor this week. Right from the 1st hole - which was one of the most difficult today for the entire field - she was punished with a triple bogey which distanced her considerably from the leading pack. This evening, she is in 58th place on 1-under par after the first three rounds. At the 2021 tournament, she finished her week by carding 64 (-7), let’s home the same will be true this year too.