(Irvine) Lauren Coughlin birdied the final hole to shoot a 6-under 66 and take the lead in the Scottish Women’s Open on Saturday.
Coughlin has birdied three of her last five holes to move one shot ahead of Megan Khang at Dundonald Links. She is 12-under.
Coughlin earned her first career LPGA Tour victory three weeks ago at the Canadian Open and put herself in position to make Team USA’s Solheim Cup roster.
Khang started the third round with 11 straight pars, but three birdies on the back nine gave him a 69.
England’s Charley Hull narrowly missed a long putt for an eagle on the 18th.e pennant, bringing back a card of 69. She shares third place at -9 with the German Esther Henseleit (69), the silver medalist of the Paris Olympic Games.
Henseleit has two wins on the European Women’s Tour and is continuing her winning streak after her success in Paris. She was paired Saturday with gold medallist Lydia Ko, who shot a 71 to fall five shots behind Coughlin.
Henseleit shared the lead after eagled the 14th.e hole. Coughlin responded with a birdie on the 15the pennant, while the German missed a birdie putt. Henseleit then made a bogey to slip to two shots behind the American.
With a cumulative score of +3, Savannah Grewal (74) is the highest ranked Canadian in the tournament, tied for 36th.e Her compatriot Brooke M. Henderson shot 74 to drop to a tie at 56.e rank.
The Women’s British Open, the final major tournament of the year, will take place next week at St. Andrews.