Emily Kristine Pedersen has managed to hold on to her lead as she heads into the final round at The ANNIKA. She expressed her strategy, saying, “To have something to chase and to focus on what I was doing and not look at others…that’s what I tried to do. To make more birdies than I did the first two days, that kept me chasing even though I was in the lead.” You can catch the final round live on Sunday from 7pm on Sky Sports Golf.
Pedersen’s performance on Saturday was impressive, with three birdies over the final five holes, resulting in a six-under 64. This gave her a three-shot lead, despite the fact that her score was only the seventh-best round of the day due to the low scoring at The ANNIKA.
Throughout the day, Pedersen maintained a clean card and made six birdies. However, she faced tough competition as other players closed in on her. Amy Yang shot 61, Lilia Vu and Patty Tavatanakit scored 62, and Alison Lee and two other players signed for a 63, making it a challenging day for Pedersen.
Pedersen managed to create some breathing room late in the game, especially with her drive on the 16th that skipped out of a bunker into the fairway, setting up a wedge to short range. She also secured a final birdie on the 18th, finishing at 18 under, three shots clear of Yang and Vu going into the final round.
In a post-round interview, Pedersen revealed that she had sought advice from her mental coach, who advised her to try to lead by more shots at the end of the day than when she started. This strategy helped her to stay focused on her game and not get distracted by the performance of other players.
Pedersen will be aiming for her first LPGA Tour title, and her current position suggests that she is in a strong position to reach the LPGA finale next week. On the other hand, Lilia Vu, who is currently No. 2, is also in contention for the LPGA Tour player of the year, based on points. However, she remains focused on playing well and not getting caught up in the pressure of the competition.
The final round of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican promises to be an exciting one. Don’t miss the action, watch it live on Sunday from 7pm on Sky Sports Golf. You can also stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, and more with NOW.