Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp prolonged their lead heading into the ultimate spherical of the Grant Thornton Invitational after a powerful day two.
Though the pair fell wanting their first-day heroics, birdying the primary 9 holes for a 14-under 58, Tawatanakit and Knapp would truly take the lead Prolonged to 2 strokes as a substitute of 1 as they gained in a 66 to high the leaderboard at 20 underneath.
The blended group occasion that includes PGA and LPGA Tour stars at Tiburon Golf Membership in Naples, Florida, featured three totally different codecs over three rounds and ended with a modified four-ball match that featured gamers from either side at the beginning. Change balls earlier than hitting the ball for a second shot and hit the identical ball till it goes within the gap.
Tawatanakit and Knapp admitted they did not have a simple day on day two, as inclement climate made taking part in within the southernmost state in the USA troublesome, however a optimistic mindset proved to be the most effective for the pair. It is essential.
“The entrance 9 was brutal, with the wind, the rain and the whole lot,” Knapp stated. “She does an excellent job of conserving me optimistic.
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“I assumed we did a very good job of following up the unhealthy photographs with good photographs and we have been capable of deal with it.”
Jeeno Thitikul and Tom Kim shot 8-under 64 to maneuver into second place earlier than transferring to 18-under forward of One shot behind have been Jennifer Kupcho and Akshay Bhatia.
Three-time main winner Lydia Ko and former males’s No. 1 Jason Day, who gained the event final yr, shot 15-under 67 after taking pictures 10-under 62 on Friday. pole, 5 strokes behind the chief.
“The chemistry between our total group and even the caddies is admittedly good,” Gao stated.
“I am simply excited for tomorrow, I really feel like we have had a extremely good match and we have been taking part in higher. So hopefully the again 9 right now will give us good momentum for tomorrow.”
Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp proceed to steer heading into Sunday’s last spherical
What’s the Grant Thornton Invitational?
The 54-hole event is a blended group occasion by which 16 LPGA Tour and 16 PGA Tour professionals compete in a novel co-sanctioned championship.
The three-day event affords three totally different codecs of group competitors, with 32 gamers vying for equal prize cash and visibility.
That is the second consecutive yr the occasion has appeared on the schedule, with the occasion launching in 2023 as the primary collectively sanctioned occasion by the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour for the reason that 1999 JCPenney Basic.
Watch the Grant Thornton Invitational dwell on Sky Sports activities this weekend. Sky Sports activities Golf will broadcast the third spherical dwell from 6pm on Sunday. Watch PGA Tour events and more now.
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