Valenzuela and Schmelzel Take Third Round Lead at the Dow Championship
By Jeremy Friedman
MIDLAND, Mich. – Team “Sho me the Doni” – Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel – moved up the leaderboard to take the third-round lead at the Dow Championship by one shot at 13-under par.
On a Saturday where birdies were difficult to come by and few and far between, Schmelzel and Valenzuela amassed four birdies vs. two bogeys for a 2-under par 68 in Saturday’s alternate shot format at Midland Country Club.
Both are seeking their first LPGA Tour win.
“I feel like we had really good attitudes throughout the entire day,” said Schmelzel. “I think both of us took every single shot as it came. Even when we did something poorly, we tried to bounce back as best we could and be really positive.”
“Our goal in foursomes [alternate shot] was just to get a couple under or maybe a little bit better. We had a few mistakes, and that’s going to happen in this format.”
Two teams sit one shot back 12-under par – Jin Hee Im and Somi Lee (2-under 68 on Saturday); and Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (1-under 69).
“It’s really hard to get into your rhythm,” said De Roey. “Just for the momentum it’s a bit tough sometimes. I’m very proud of us. We hung in there. We fought until the end.”
Third-round leaders Jennifer Kupcho and Leona Maguire also struggled to find their rhythm in Saturday’s alternate shot, accumulating four bogeys before finishing with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18. They stand two shots back at 11-under.
“I think they were huge,” said Maguire on the two birdies coming down the stretch. “I think it gives us a chance going into tomorrow. Just really got nothing going today but tried to stay patient, tried to keep giving ourselves chances. Eventually did on the last holes. Jen holed two great putts.”
Two past champion teams took advantage moving day on Saturday to put themselves into contention heading into Sunday. Defending champions Jeeno Thitikul and Ruoning Yin turned in a 3-under 67 on Saturday to move up to 9-under for the championship, along with 2023 champions Elizabeth Szokol and Cheyenne Knight, who carded the low round of the day at 5-under 65 to also stand at 9-under, four shots back.
Sunday’s final round tee times will begin at 9 a.m. ET, with the final groups teeing off at 12:50 p.m. ET. Golf Channel will televise the final round live from 3-6 p.m. ET.
