Cara Gainer, Gabriela Ruffels share lead at Evian Championship
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England’s Cara Gainer carded a 7-under 64 and Ruffels shot 66 in the third round.
PHOTO: AFP
EVIAN – England’s Cara Gainer and Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels shared a one-stroke lead at 11-under 202 entering the final round of the Evian Championship on July 13.
Gainer carded a seven-under 64 and Ruffels shot 66 in the third round on July 12 at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, three-time Major winner Minjee Lee and fellow Australian Grace Kim, along with second-round leader Lee So-mi of South Korea are all 10 under at the fourth of this season’s five Majors.
Gainer, 29, picked up her maiden title on the Ladies European Tour (LET) in Morocco in February. She tied for third at an LET event at this course in May.
“I’ve got confidence coming from that tournament,” she said. “I know it’s set up slightly different, but I have good feelings and good vibes in this amazing beautiful place.”
Gainer put herself into contention for her first Major victory with six birdies, an eagle at the par-five seventh hole and a bogey on July 12.
Ruffels, 25, has three titles on the Epson Tour but her best finish at a Major was tied-13th at the US Women’s Open in 2020. She opened the third round with her only bogey of the day before posting six birdies, including four from No. 11 to 15.
Gabriela Ruffels opened the third round with her only bogey of the day before posting six birdies, including four during a five-hole stretch from Nos. 11-15.
PHOTO: AFP
“Putter was really good today,” Ruffels said. “Made some putts inside 15 feet. And, yeah, was just super solid tee to green.”
Japan’s Yuri Yoshida and China’s Liu Ruixin posted the low rounds of the day at eight-under 63. Yoshida finished a clean round with eight birdies and is tied-seventh at nine under, while Liu had six birdies and an eagle to move into a tie for 12th at seven under.
Andrea Lee (71) and Jennifer Kupcho (72) are the leading Americans in the field and part of the group in 12th place, four shots off the lead.
English amateur Lottie Woad (70) finished with a 60-foot birdie putt and is tied for 19th at six under with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, a two-time Major winner.
Meanwhile, England’s Charley Hull said she was feeling better on July 11, a day after she was forced to withdraw after twice collapsing to the ground during the first round.
She posted on Instagram: “Been struggling with a virus all week but it got the better of me yesterday... thanks to the medics who took care of me and to all those who have reached out with messages of support.
“Happy to say I’m feeling a lot better today, just gutted I can’t play the weekend at such a fantastic tournament.” REUTERS
