MIDDLEARD, Michigan — Sarah Schmeltzell and Alban Valenzuela took a third-round lead in the Dow Championship on Saturday, shooting a 2-under 68 in alternative shot plays to move into the winning position of the first LPGA Tour.
Schmelzel and Valenzuela headed for the final round of Better-Ball with a 13-under sum at the Midland Country Cup. They opened on Thursday with an alternative shot 68 and had the best ball 61 on Friday.
“You’re like having a pin and needle all day long and you want your partner to get in trouble,” Schmeltzel said. “It’s very solid. It feels like we were doing really good all day long. I think we both took all the shots when it came.”
The team of Jin Hee Im-Somi Lee (68) and Manon de Roey-Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (69) had a stroke.
“I’m very proud of us,” de Rohe said. “We were hanging there. We fought to the end.”
Second round leaders after age 60, Jennifer Kupucho and Leona Maguire birded the final two holes of the 72, tied fourth under the 11 at Lauren Hartage Brook Matthews (66) and Song Hyun Park Ina (67). Kupcho won the Lizette Salas in 2022.
“You should try and post numbers early and see what happens,” Maguire said. “I think it was good to see two putts coming in at the end.”
Lexi Thompson-Megan Kang (68) and Rio Takeda-Miyu Yamasha (67) 10 Underdoose.
The defending champions run Inn and Gino Chiticle among the top five women’s world rankings, but under 67 were under 9.
Schmerzell and Valenzuela interpreted the final seven holes. They had four birdies and two bogeys in the round.
“It feels like we had a really good day,” Valenzuela said. “Our goal at Foursome was to go below the couple or get a little better. There were a few mistakes. That happens in this format. We also did something really good.”