HAINAN, China: Gaby Lopez turned 25 on Friday and celebrated with a hole-in-one that helped her to a 6-under-66 and a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn after the third round of the Blue Bay LPGA tournament.
Lopez will be after her first career LPGA Tour victory in the final round on Saturday while world No.1 Ariya will be looking for her 12th career win. They also played together on Friday at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Club.
“I have been waiting for this moment,” the Mexican said after her round on Friday. “I’m very lucky to share the course with the best player in the world. You know, I had fun. I enjoyed today,”
Lopez aced the 17th, knocking in a 7-iron from 181 yards. She also had six birdies including three to open the round. She said it was her eighth hole-in-one.
“As soon as the ball left the club I knew it was a good shot, but I couldn't see because the sun was in my face," Lopez explained. “I turned around and my caddie goes, ‘It went in.’ I couldn't give myself a better birthday present.”
Ariya began the day with a four-stroke lead but slipped in Friday to a 71, which included a bogey on the final hole.
World No.2 Park Sung-hyun shot a 67 and fellow South Korean Kim Sei-young had a 68 to put them both five strokes behind the leader.
Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya’s sister, fell from tied for second place overnight to a share of seventh after a disappointing 74.
The tournament wraps up five straight weeks of play for the tour in Asia.