Leona Maguire is seven shots off the pace heading into the final round of the Volunteers of American Classic in Texas.

The Co Cavan star made an eagle, three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in a one-under 70 to share 30th place on three-over as Stephanie Meadow shot 74 to lie tied 68th in nine-over. Scores

At the top of the leaderboard, major champions Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu along with 2020 LPGA Tour rookie Yealimi Noh are tied for the lead on four-under at Old American Golf Club in The Colony.

So Yeon Ryu, in just her third 2020 event on Tour, recorded a bogey-free 65 and carded six birdies with five on her opening nine holes. Hitting 17 of 18 greens, the 30-year-old couldn’t be happier with her results after starting the day in a tie for 26th.

“I have no complaints about my ball‑striking today,” said Ryu. “I hit 17 greens, I believe, and then I made so many birdie chances. I wish I could have made more putts on the back nine, but 65 is always good score and hopefully I can drop some putt tomorrow, what I could not make today.”

Park, who is in contention for her third victory at the VOA Classic after winning in 2013 and 2015, nearly shot a bogey-free round if not for an unfortunate slip on No. 11. 

“I feel like I play really good on the front nine. Just the back nine I hit a lot of good shots, but just putts didn't drop. A little disappointed back nine, but I played pretty well overall and I'm happy because we took about seven weeks of break after KPMG and coming back here first week just preparing for the U.S. Women's Open, so I'm really happy with my game,” said Park, who hit 13 of 13 fairways and carded three birdies on Nos. 6, 8 and 9.

Noh closed with an even-par 71, after a roller-coaster third round. The 19-year-old had gotten to -6 by No. 18 after four birdies and two bogeys, but two shots in the fairway-bunker on the final hole contributed to a double-bogey to lose the solo lead heading into Sunday.

“Bad shots happen. No one's perfect and mistakes are always there, but just to get over it and try to make the next shot or stick it close to save it,” started Noh. “I was thinking about it after the round too, like what was good and what was bad. But I think I just ‑‑ I didn't hit as many greens as I thought, but overall ‑‑ I had some good up and downs today, so that really helped me save par,” said Noh.

Seven players are in the hunt one stroke back at -3, including major champions Jin Young Ko and Angela Stanford, as well as Texas resident Kristen Gillman, after a third-round 66, her lowest 18-hole score since a round-two 66 at the 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai. 

“Definitely happy with how today went,” said Gillman. “I haven't been hitting my driver as good the last two days, so I kind of focused on putting myself in the fairway because I've been hitting my irons well and I knew I'd give myself more birdie chance if I did that.”

Swedes Madelene Sagstrom and Anna Nordqvist, who slipped from a tie for first to a tie for 11th heading into the final day, sit at -2.

WITH A WIN

• Inbee Park would become the third winner of 2020 with multiple victories along with Danielle Kang (LPGA Drive On Championship – Inverness Club, Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana) and Sei Young Kim (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Pelican Women’s Championship presented by DEX Imaging and Konica Minolta); it would be her 21st career Tour victory. 

• With the $262,500 winner’s check, Park would pass Sei Young Kim for the No. 1 spot on the LPGA Tour Official Money list with $1,329,020 this season

• Park or So Yeon Ryu would become the fourth different player from the Republic of Korea to win the VOA Classic since its inception in 2016

• It would be Ryu’s first win since the 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic and her seventh career victory; it would be her second professional victory this year after winning the Korean Women’s Open on the Korean LPGA (KLPGA) this past June

• Yealimi Noh would become the fourth Rolex First-Time Winner of 2020, joining Madelene Sagstrom (Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio), Mel Reid (ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer) and Ally McDonald (LPGA Drive On Championship – Reynolds Lake Oconee)

• At 19 years, 4 months and 11 days on Sunday, Noh would be the first 2020 Tour Rookie to win this season and the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour since Lydia Ko at the 2016 Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana (19y/2m/23d)

• Noh would also be the first player to win under the age of 20 since Nasa Hataoka at the 2018 TOTO Japan Classic; she would be the first American to win in her teens since Lexi Thompson at the 2014 ANA Inspiration (19y/1m/18d)

• Noh would be the third LPGA*USGA Girls Golf alum to win on the LPGA Tour after Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel

ROOKIE YEALIMI NOH “SUPER EXCITED” TO PLAY FINAL ROUND WITH ROLE MODELS RYU AND PARK

Ever since she was a young golfer, Yealimi Noh took inspiration from many players that hailed from the Republic of Korea, most notably LPGA Tour winners such as 20-time LPGA Tour winner Inbee Park and six-time Tour champion So Yeon Ryu. 

“I'm super, super excited,” said Noh, who holds the 54-hole lead for the second time in her career. “I was telling my parents in the beginning of the week how it would be so cool to play with either one of them. I really wanted to play with them to see just up close how amazing they are and to learn and it will be really fun tomorrow.” 

With so many reasons to be nervous, the 19-year-old who is still waiting to obtain a driver’s license is trying her best to remain calm—which she’s done well leading up to the final round at the VOA Classic.

“No matter how many times I'm in contention, I think it's always nerve racking on the final day, but I have to just be really calm tomorrow and stay patient,” said Noh, who is looking for her first win on the LPGA Tour. “Patience is key and just play my game and see where it takes me.” 

NO MATTER THE COURSE, QUEEN INBEE SHINES AT VOA CLASSIC 

When it comes to the VOA Classic for Rolex Ranking No. 5 Inbee Park, she’s most famous for winning the event in both 2013 and 2015. But, the event wasn’t played at Old American Golf Club. This week, the “Queen” of the LPGA Tour proved venue doesn’t matter, as she looks to be the third Tour  winner of 2020 with multiple victories this season.

“This golf course, the greens are just so pure. I had a couple of mistakes, you know, greens are just too fast for me. I have been practicing a little bit on the slower green than this, you know, last couple of months,” said Park. “So I'm just trying to still adjust a little bit of speed, but the course is in really good condition. Greens are a little bit softer than last year, but with the cold weather it is playing tough. Once you miss the green, it is really hard to get up and down so you have to hit a lot of greens on this golf course.”

Flying back home to the Republic of Korea after taking second at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in early October, the 32-year-old LPGA veteran had lower expectations for the week. Instead, she presented the week more as an opportunity to warm up for next week’s U.S. Women’s Open, which she won in 2008 and 2013. 

“I think I was probably thinking that I am going to be a little bit rusty and just trying to get things going before the Open, and that's what I'm trying to do. I mean, it is tough with the little bit chillier weather, but that's how we're going to get next week so trying to get used to playing in cold conditions, and I feel like I'm doing just fine,” said Park.

SO YEON RYU RECORDS EVENT’S LOWEST 18-HOLE SCORE THROUGH THREE ROUNDS

6-under par is a great score for any golfer, yet, when the athlete knows they can shoot even lower, it’s merely acceptable. 

“Actually I've been hitting the ball really, really well today, so hopefully I can shoot some low number. And even though I played a few events in Korea, I never really had low scores. So I really wanted to shoot like 8 under, 7 under, so that's what I was looking for. I was expecting little better than 65, but once again, 65 is always good score to have,” said So Yeon Ryu, tied for the lead at the Volunteers of America Classic.

Her first LPGA Tour event since ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open in February, Ryu didn’t come in with any particular expectations. Yet, she knew her swing was off, so coming back to the United States and seeing her coach again for the first time in months helped her, which showed this week. 

“Well, to be honest, was bit of struggle with the ball‑striking the last two days, but I went to see my coach on Monday. I haven't seen him for nine months and finally got to see him, and he gave me couple of swing thoughts and that one really worked out well today. So I have no complaint about my ball‑striking today,” said Ryu.

STANFORD CLOSES WITH A SURPRISE ON 17 TO KEEP IN CONTENTION

Texas resident Angela Stanford was off to a hot start during the third round of the Volunteers of America Classic, with birdies on three of her first five holes that got her to 5-under at the turn. But as she braced for the more challenging back-nine, two bogeys on Nos. 11 and 13 as well as a double on No. 14 tested her patience at Old American Golf Club as she ventured to 1-under with four holes left to play. 

“Today was harder because I was telling my caddie I've missed a lot of greens this week and that's very unusual for me, but I feel like it's okay when you hit a good shot and you miss a green, but when you hit a bad shot and miss a green, I feel like those are two different things. I struggled with that today because I hit bad shots and missed greens today,” said Stanford, who hit only 11 of 18 greens today and 27 through the last three rounds. “When I'm worried about my ball‑striking, I'm not as good mentally, not as sharp mentally for sure. I'm going to try to work that out and see what happens tomorrow.”

Stanford closed with a blessing – an eagle on No. 17 jolted her back up the leaderboard to finish with a 70 to sit in a tie for second at -3. She sits just one off the three leaders at -4, and a victory Sunday would be her first since her maiden major title win at the 2018 Evian Championship. 

“I got away with the second shot because it was hooking. I thought it was going to be in the bunker and it wasn't. Just tried to pop that chip shot up and again got kind of lucky because it checked. Then we read it right and it was just ‑‑ it's nice to see it go in when you've had a rough stretch,” said Stanford. “I feel like I'm in a great spot. I feel like regardless of what happens tomorrow, I'm going to learn something going into next week. I feel like again I've been working on my short game, I've been doing a lot of good things in that area. This week was really about getting comfortable with my short game in competition. I think tomorrow, whatever happens, is going to be good going down to Houston tomorrow night.”

Rolex Rankings No. 5 Inbee Park (72-68-69)

• Hit 13 of 13 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, with 29 putts

• This is her 11th event this season; her best finish is a win at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, and has also recorded five additional top-10 finishes, including two runner-up performances (Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

• Park is in her 14th season on the LPGA Tour; she has 20 career victories, including seven majors, and won most recently at the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open

• She is competing in her fifth VOA Classic; she won in 2013 and 2015 and has never finished worse than 14th place

• Park has won the 2012 and 2015 Vare Trophy, 2015 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, 2013 Rolex Player of the Year and 2013 GWAA Female Player of the Year

• Park won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Rolex Rankings No. 15 So Yeon Ryu (72-72-65)

• Ryu hit 13 of 13 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, with 28 putts

• Her 66 is her best 18-hole score on the LPGA Tour since the 2019 Marathon LPGA Classic, where she recorded a final-round 65

• This is Ryu’s third event of the 2020 LGPA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for second at the ISPS Handa Vic Open in February

• This is her fifth appearance at the VOA Classic; her best finish is a tie for fourth in 2013

• This is her ninth season on Tour; she’s recorded six wins including two major championships (2011 U.S. Women’s Open, 2017 ANA Inspiration

• Ryu’s last win was at the 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic

• She has held the 54-hole lead six previous times in her Tour career, and has converted four of those into wins

• Ryu won the 2017 Rolex Player of the Year and Rolex ANNIKA Major Award; in 2012, she earned the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year

• She has represented the Republic of Korea three times at the UL International Crown (2014, 2016, 2018)

• In 2011, Ryu defeated Hee Kyung Seo in a three-hole playoff at the 2011 U.S. Women's Open to earn her first LPGA Tour victory and her LPGA Tour card for the 2012 season

• An avid violinist at a young age, Ryu enjoys music

Rolex Rankings No. 61 Yealimi Noh (72-66-71) 

• She hit 10 of 13 fairways and 11 of 18 greens, with 26 putts

• This is Noh’s 14th event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her highest finish is a T3 result at the Cambia Portland Classic

• This is her first appearance at the Volunteers of America Classic

• She holds the 36-hole lead for the first time in her career

• Noh is a 2020 LPGA Tour rookie; her best career finish is a second at the 2019 Cambia Portland Classic

• She finished third at the LPGA q-Series to earn status for the 2020 LPGA Tour season

• Noh turned professional in January 2019 after winning the 2018 Girl’s Junior PGA Championship, 2018 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in consecutive weeks