Japan’s Akie Iwai shot an eight under 64 who played with his twin sister to share a third round of the US Lauren Coughlin and Sweden Ingrid Lindblad in JM Eagle La Championship.
Coughlin made a five-foot birdie putt on the couple-four 18. For a 66, while Lindblad shot 68 to match iwai at 17 under 199 at El Caballero Country Club.
Top-ranked Nelly Korda made a closure of three-putt-bogey in her last start and were three strokes behind before her title defense in Houston next week at Major Chevron Championship.
Iwai, 22, presenting in her first season on the LPGA tour, a 60-yard wedge shot for Eagle on par-five first and had six birdies in her bogey-free round.
“I just want to win the tournament,” Iwai said. “I will win at least one tournament this year.”
Akie’s twin sister, Chisato Iwai, was tied to 12 noon. 11 below, after the couple earned the LPGA Tour card last year on the qualifying tournament.
However, Akie said she is “just another player and opponent” when she was asked if she saw it as an advantage to play with her twin.
Coughin birds of the first three holes and four of the first five before pairing the next 10 holes, then birded two of the last three.
“Only a bogey for the first three days, so it’s always really good,” Coughlin said.
“Made some really good couples saving out there today and kind of in the middle of the round when I didn’t, lost kind of it for a while, but was able to stabilize it and keep it going there at the end.”
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Meanwhile, 25-year-old Lindblad, who is in his first season on tour, had four back-ni birdies and hopes for a win as well.
“I think I just need to stay in my own bubble a little and not get too far ahead of myself,” Lindblad said. “Obviously, the goal is to win, but we can’t win tonight or on the first tee box tomorrow. So I just need to stay in the present and try to keep playing well.”
See the fourth and final round of LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle La Championship, Live at Sky Sports Golf From Sunday at. 23.00, which takes place at El Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles. Get Sky Sports or Stream with now.