SYLVANIA, Ohio — Linn Grant put herself in position to become just the second LPGA Tour player to break 60, but she played the final five holes in even par for a 9-under 62 and has a 6-stroke lead entering the final round of the Dana Open.
Grant was 9 under on her first 13 holes on a long, rainy Saturday at Highland Meadows, giving hope that she could join fellow Swede Annika Sorenstam as the only LPGA Tour players to shoot 59.
Sorenstam accomplished the feat in the 2001 Standard Register Ping at par-72 Moon Valley in Phoenix.
Two strokes back entering the round, Grant had an 18-under 195 total to take a 6-stroke lead over U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz (68), Stephanie Kyriacou (65), Maria Fassi (67), Matilda Castren (67) and Emily Pedersen (67).
Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, the 24-year-old Grant won the Jabra Ladies Open in May in France for her fifth Ladies European Tour title in two seasons.
Grant opened with a par Saturday and birdied the next four. After a rain delay of 3 hours, 48 minutes, she resumed play on No. 8 and added a birdie on No. 9 for a front-nine 29.
Grant holed out a full shot from the fairway for eagle on the par-4 11th and birdied Nos. 12 and 13.
Needing to play the final five in 3 under for a 59, the former Arizona State player parred the next two, bogeyed the par-4 16th, birdied the par-5 17th and parred the par-5 18th.
Corpuz won the U.S. Women’s Open a week ago at Pebble Beach for her first tour title.
Second-round leader Annie Park had a 71 to drop into a tie for seventh at 11 under with Minjee Lee (67).