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MANILA, Philippines — Clariss Guce and Sam Bruce saw their title hopes fade after struggling with over-par rounds in the third round of the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Classic at TPC Scottsdale’s Champions Course on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).
In strong contention after 36 holes in the $400,000 Epson Tour event, the Filipino campaigners faltered. Guce dropped four strokes over her final three holes, including a costly double bogey on No. 17, to limp a three-over 74.
Bruce fared even worse with a 76, marred by three bogeys on the back nine.
Guce’s 211 aggregate dropped her to a tie for 20th, while Bruce slipped to joint 31st at 212 after opening the tournament with consecutive 68s that had placed her in a share of seventh.
Bruce, winner of the kickoff leg of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour at Pradera Verde, had a bright start with a birdie on No. 3, but bogeys on Nos. 5 and 7 halted her momentum. She picked up another birdie on the par-5 eighth but gave it right back with a double bogey on No. 9, making the turn at 38.
A bogey on the 10th further dimmed her chances, followed by two more on 16 and 17.
Guce, a two-time Epson Tour winner, birdied the eighth after seven straight pars but, like Bruce, stumbled on the ninth with a double bogey. She bounced back with consecutive birdies starting at No. 14, only to bogey the 16th and suffer a double on 17, finishing with another miscue on the closing hole.
Meanwhile, LPGA veteran and first-round leader Sophia Popov showcased resilience, bouncing back from a 73 with a second-round 64 to reclaim the lead at 12-under 201. She now holds a commanding four-shot lead over Hailee Cooper, who shot a 70 for a 205.
Michelle Zhang and Cristie Kerr fired 67 and 69, respectively, to join Riley Rennell (71) and Liqi Zheng (72) in a four-way tie for third at 206.
In South Carolina, Rico Hoey surged up 14 spots to joint 31st at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic after posting a two-under 69 at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
The ICTSI-backed Hoey had a topsy-turvy start, trading two birdies for two bogeys through 10 holes. He then caught fire with birdies on Nos. 13, 15 and 16 but was set back by a late bogey on the 17th.
He, however, looks to build on this rally after recent stumbles, including a missed cut at the Zurich Classic and a tied for 52nd at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Carson Young stole the show with a stunning 64, climbing 14 places to seize the solo lead at 200, one ahead of Harry Higgs, who turned in a 68 for a 201, and two clear of Mackenzie Hughes, who shot a 70 for a 202.
In the LPGA Tour, Jeeno Thitikul regained the lead at the Mizuho Americas Open with a sizzling third-round 65 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Thai ace birdied four of the first six holes and rebounded from a double bogey on No. 9 with five more birdies on the back nine, including back-to-back gains on Nos. 16 and 17, to reach 14-under 202.
She’s now just 18 holes away from her fifth LPGA Tour victory, having opened with a 64 before slipping with a second-round 73.
But Celine Boutier remained in close pursuit at 203 after a 66, highlighted by five back-nine birdies, including a strong finish from No. 15, while defending champion and World No. 1 Nelly Korda carded a 68 to slip to joint third with Andrea Lee (68) at 204.
Yealimi Noh (67) followed at 205. Carlota Ciganda (69) stood at 206, with Rio Takeda (68), Kristen Gillman (70), and Julia Lopez Ramirez (71) all at 208, setting the stage for a thrilling final round battle of wits and nerves among the world’s elite.
