Stephanie Meadow moved up just one spot to 44th when she carded a one-under 71 into the final round of the LPGA Drive On Championship - Reynolds Lake Oconee on one-under-par.

She was 12 strokes adrift of Ally McDonald, whose 69 gave her a one-shot lead over big-hitting Bianca Pagdanganan of the Phillippines on 13-under.

Leona Maguire made four birdies but four dropped shots in a four-hole stretch from the sixth and another bogey at the 16th saw her sign for a 73 and slip five places to 68th on three-over.

Scores

LPGA Drive On Championship - Reynolds Lake Oconee

Reynolds Lake Oconee, Great Waters Course | Greensboro, Ga. | Oct. 22-25, 2020

Third-Round Notes Oct. 24, 2020
Weather: Partly cloudy all day, with temperatures reaching the low 80s; winds E, 5-10 mph in the afternoon 

LEADERBOARD

1 Ally McDonald -13 66-68-69

2 Bianca Pagdanganan -12 68-67-69

3 Danielle Kang -11 65-70-70

MCDONALD ON TOP AFTER DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP MOVING DAY

It’s never simple, never easy, and more often than not, it’s a grind to the finish line on the LPGA Tour.

When the dust settled on Saturday at the LPGA Drive On Championship – Reynold Lake Oconee, it was Ally McDonald who came out with the lead after a third-round 69 at -13. Playing alongside 2020 Tour rookie Bianca Pagdanganan and five-time Tour winner Danielle Kang, McDonald traded the lead with both players after bogeying her opening hole. After birdies at Nos. 5 and 8, she regained the lead with another birdie at No. 9 and would keep it the rest of the round. 

“Missed it a little right of the pin,” said McDonald of her approach on No. 9. “But that's exactly why I have the strategy that I do, because I'm not going to hit it exactly where I want to every single time. I was looking a little left and a little past the pin and I hit it a little short and a little right, and just so happened it was four feet right of the hole; was able to roll that in.”

Despite a bogey on No. 17, two birdies on the card were enough for the 54-hole lead, which McDonald holds for the first time in her career. “I played some really solid golf after I kind of settled in. Made a few bad swings towards the end of the round, but I'm not going to discredit how I really did settle in and played solid golf for most of my holes,” said McDonald, who turns 28 tomorrow. “So I'm excited with the position I'm in. Mentally I think I handled myself really well. Ready to take on tomorrow.”

Pagdanganan, in just her sixth event of the season, is one back of McDonald at -12 after a 69 kept her in contention for the second consecutive tournament. After birding No. 2 to gain the lead for the only time of the third round, the young Filippino answered two bogeys on Nos. 3 and 5 with two birdies on Nos. 7 and 9. After seven straight pars, Pagdanganan closed with birdies on the final two holes, the most “relieving” part of her round.

“I was just like telling my caddie, I was telling Brandon, it's fine if the putts aren't dropping, but I'm giving myself really, really good opportunities. Eventually they're going to have to drop. Probably take a little more time to read the green,” said Pagdanganan. “But after I made the putt on 17 I was judge I can oh, my goodness, like finally. Like literally a sigh of relief. Coming into 18 I was like, okay, just hit a good drive and give yourself another good chance to make a birdie. ”

For Kang, it was a roller-coaster of a day to get to solo third at -11. After a bogey on No. 2, Kang made three consecutive birdies on Nos. 4-6, and made a crucial par-save to keep in it at No. 9. Kang’s back-nine included a double-bogey on No. 16 after hitting out of bounds, but after a birdie on No. 18, Kang closed with a 70. She, Pagdanganan and leader McDonald will once again be the final grouping, and Kang plans on being more aggressive on the final day as she looks for her third win of the 2020 season.

“I'm very frustrated today, but there was a lot of up and downs. But I think I handled the curve balls pretty well. Good to finish on a birdie,” said Kang.

Following the top-three is Carlota Ciganda, who carded one early bogey on No. 3 and five birdies to sit in solo fourth at -10. Three-time Tour winner Katherine Kirk rounds out the top five at -9 overall after a third-round 70. Three players are in a tie for sixth at -8 – Mina Harigae, Brittany Altomare and Ariya Jutanugarn, with major champions Lydia Ko and Pernilla Lindbergalong with Megan Khang and Angel Yin lurking close behind at -7 in a tie for ninth. 

 

WITH A WIN

Ally McDonald or Bianca Pagdanganan would become the third Rolex First-Time Winner of the season, following Madelene Sagstrom (Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio) and Mel Reid(ShopRite LPGA Classic)

McDonald would be the first LPGA Tour player from who played collegiate golf at Mississippi State to win 

McDonald would be the fifth different American to win in 2020

Pagdanganan would be the second Tour winner from the Philippines, behind Jennifer Rosales, who won the 2004 Chick-fil-A Charity Championship in Georgia and the 2005 SBS Open at Turtle Bay

She would be the youngest winner of the season (22 years, 11 months, 27 days)

Danielle Kang would be the first three-time winner of 2020; it would be her sixth-career Tour victory; she is currently the only multiple winner this season

With the $195,000 winner’s check, Kang would surpass the $6 million mark in career earnings ($6,175,115)

 

DESPITE REASONS TO FRET, MCDONALD COMPOSED HEADING INTO DRIVE ON FINAL FOUND

Though Mississippian Ally McDonald has been on the LPGA Tour for five years, Sunday would be her first Tour victory. For that reason alone, the newly-wedded golfer would have any right to be nervous. Instead, she’s choosing to trust—the process, her hard work, her fans’ support, and most importantly, her faith. 

“I'm definitely in a more comfortable position knowing that what I have and me is enough. I don't have to push and be more than I am. It's just kind of going and trusting what I know I can do. Trying to tee it up with the best players in the world and try to play my best. That's it,” said McDonald of how she has managed to stay as composed as she has the last few days. 

Having trust in one’s self is a huge advantage especially for athletes. Having a team who also thinks similarly and supports you is a blessing, and McDonald knows that.

“Well, several things. I've been around a lot of people in my life that have just fed me knowledge, whether it's golf or life. I've always believed that golf is not who I am; it's just what I do. From junior golf with my parents and grandparents to college golf with my coaches, swing coach, short game coach, now my husband, can kind of get in my ear and chill me out a little bit,” said McDonald, who has the support of her parents following her around the Great Waters course. “It's just been good having so many people feeding into me and where I am now.”

EUBANKS: BIANCA PAGDANGANAN COULD BE THE FUTURE OF THE WOMEN’S GAME

She is not a fluke. She is not a freak. She is the future. LPGA Tour rookie Bianca Pagdanganan may or may not win the Drive On Championship - Reynolds Lake Oconee this week. She shot 69 to reach 12-under while playing in the final group on Saturday and will tee off on Sunday within a shot of Ally McDonald’s lead. But Bianca’s time is coming. You better learn to pronounce her name (four syllables, accent on the third one, and all the a’s are soft) because not only will she be collecting hardware by the shelf-full, but this 22-year-old from the Philippines could change the way young girls swing the club and learn the game.

“She could definitely be a revolutionary figure in the women’s game,” Karen Stupples said Saturday afternoon as she watched Pagdanganan pose for pictures like a seasoned veteran. “She’s got the personality. But she is also the only woman in the game with that kind of power (in her golf swing) who isn’t afraid to use it. Other players could hit it as far as she does, but they’re afraid to do it. They’ve been told that they need to pull back and keep it in play or hit it to a number. (Bianca) doesn’t care about any of that. She picks a line and rips at it.”    

You can hear people talk about her length all day long. And you can see the shots on television. But until you’re there, until you see the width of her backswing and the speed with which she fires her hips; until you hear the pop at impact and see the ball fly with a trajectory and spin that would make Rory McIlroy sit up straight, you really don’t understand what makes this young woman so special. 

She didn’t hit many drivers in the third round at the Great Waters Course, but when she did, the smattering of residents who meandered out of their homes to watch said things like “Holy smokes!” loud enough to get the players’ attention.

To read more of Steve Eubanks’ column on LPGA.com, click here: https://www.lpga.com/news/2020/bianca-pagdanganan-could-be-the-future-of-the-womens-game

IT’S NOT OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER FOR KANG AT REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE

“It was just an unfortunate bogey, reachable par-5 and ended up hitting in the water. That was the story of my day,” said Rolex Rankings No. 5 Danielle Kang of her bogey on No. 2. The grind was apparent for Kang, who heads into the final round two strokes behind leader Ally McDonald (-11).

Of the 10 events the LPGA has played this year, Kang has placed within the top 15 at six of them. Whereas Kang was a bit more focused on fixing her putting before this week she said, Kang said a few mistakes popped up in almost every part of her game throughout Saturday.

“The swing felt -- it didn't feel quite all there, so I'm going to go tweak it today and hit it better tomorrow,” said Kang. “I think tomorrow, getting everything together and just firing from the start will be pretty key. The other two girls are playing pretty well, so I've got to focus on my game. Everyone's game is very different. I can't really worry about them.”

TO FANS: HONK IF YOU ARE ENJOYING THE LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

LPGA Tour players heard more boat honks than they did claps throughout the first three days at Great Waters Course at Lake Oconee, GA. That is because most of the holes and players’ shots can be better seen sitting on a pontoon or jet ski. With nearly thirty to forty boats huddled around the lakes’ coves, players enjoyed hearing their supportive honks and cheers, especially given that COVID-19 has taken most of this year’s spectators. 

“Fun to see this many people out on their boats and coming out from their houses and just staking a chair on the out-of-bounds lines. I think I saw maybe a two-and-a-half-year-old out there waving and yelled out ‘hi.’ Reminded me of my nephew,” said said three-time LPGA Tour winner Katherine Kirk. “It's neat that there are young kids out here too that want to come watch. Who knows? We’re inspiring the next generation here too in Georgia.” 

“Since quarantine we haven't had any fans, so it's nice here, especially on the back nine by the water. A lot of these people with their boats are coming out and clapping for us. It's always nice to kind of feel like we're playing in front of crowds again,” said said 15-time Tour champion Lydia Ko. “That kid on No. 8, there two kids or three of them, and they were all probably maybe up to my knee height. They were like, ‘Hello, golfers.’ And I was like, ‘Hello, cute kids.’ There was a lot cute kids out here. I love kids, so it's always nice to see them. Who knows, we might be seeing them on TV sometime down the road,” 

“It’s refreshing. It's just so nice to see everybody back out supporting us. I mean, that's what we like about tournament golf is playing in front of fans and feeling that support,” said 29-year-old Brittany Altomare. “This community has been amazing. Looking at 18 it's so cool to see.”

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 62 Ally McDonald (66-68-69)

• McDonald’s 203 ties her career second-best 54-hole score, last recorded at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic where she finished T10

• This is the first time McDonald has held a 54-hole lead in her LPGA Tour career

• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens, with 25 putts

• This is McDonald’s 11th event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is T11 at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio in January

• This is her fifth season on the LPGA Tour; her career-best finish is third, recorded at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic and the 2018 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship

• She was a member of the 2019 U.S. Solheim Cup Team, with a 1-3-0 overall record 

• McDonald payed collegiate golf at Mississippi State and was a two-time First-Team All-American

• She played on the 2014 U.S. Curtis Cup Team

Rolex Rankings No. 223 Bianca Pagdanganan (68-67-69)

• Her 204 is her career-best 54-hole score by three shots, a 207, at the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 30 putts

• This is Pagdanganan’s sixth event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is T9 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

• This is her first season on the LPGA Tour; she has one-career top-10 finish from the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (T9)

• She currently leads the LPGA Tour in average driving distance (286.21)

• Pagdanganan played collegiate golf at the University of Arizona after transferring from Gonzaga University in 2017; she helped the Wildcats clinch the 2018 NCAA D1 Women’s Golf Championship

• She won the bronze in the women’s individual golf event and gold in the team event at the 2018 Asian Games; in 2019, she won individual and team golf medals at the Southeast Asian Games

Rolex Rankings No. 5 Danielle Kang (65-70-70)

• She hit 9 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, with 26 putts 

• This is Kang’s 11th event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; she has two wins at the Drive On Championship and the Marathon Classic presented by Dana as well as two additional top-five finishes

• This is her ninth season on the LPGA Tour; she has won five times, including one major championship (2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship)

• Kang crossed the $5 million mark in career earnings with a T3 finish at the 2019 CME Group Tour Championship

• She is a two-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team (2017, 2019), with a 4-4-0 overall record

• She won the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship

 

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

108 players; 72 holes, stroke play, cut to top 70 and ties after 36 holes

PURSE

$1.3 million USD; winner’s portion is $195,000