Moving day delivered at Earl Grey.
Certainly it did for the leader of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open and for a few now-contenders for Sunday’s title to crown a winner at the Canadian championship.
Haeran Ryu carded a sizzling 8-under 64 Saturday for a 13-under 203 to switch places with American Lauren Coughlin, as the South Korean talent owns the lead heading into the final 18 holes of the LPGA Tour stop in Calgary.
“Yeah … that’s good thing.”
It’s a top thing right now with one round to play.
But things can change quickly in one day on the links.
Just ask Japan’s Mao Saigo, the LPGA rookie to record a record round — a “best round” for her — a filthy-low 11-under 61 Saturday.
The wild day vaulted her up on the leaderboard into a tie for third place with American Rose Zhang, who also benefitted from a sparkling 6-under third round.
“Wow,” said Ryu of Saigo’s record-round score, which is the best ever in 50 showcases of this national championship. “This course is so tough and so many challenges on the course.
“But I started five holes and 5-under, so … oh, I’m crazy, too, I think.”
Or maybe fuelled from such a recent run of success in her sophomore season on tour.
The 23-year-old has done just about everything but win this year.
She’s missed just one cut in 17 events on the 2024 schedule and enjoyed seven top-10 finishes — four of them top-fivers.
Included was last week’s runner-up wrap-up at the Dana Open in Ohio, where a bogey on 16 kept her from a possible victory over winner Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen.
“Yeah, I think because of a really good finish at final round last week, I have more confidence,” Ryu said. “Now I just trust myself (to get a) really good score and to keep going, I think.
“But last week is just last week, and I just think about now and future,” continued Ryu. “This week, I don’t want to replay on the last week. I mean … I just keep going.”
Just to replay Saturday’s effort would be a feat — and likely a winner.
Five of Ryu’s seven birdies came in the first six holes. She had one more on No. 10 and a final one on 13 before an eagle on the Par-5 14th hole covering 554 yards.
Her day could have been even better, but Ryu lipped out from four feet on No. 16 and just missed another birdie on the Par-3 17th, running it just right of the hole.
And she had that one blemish — a bogey — on the Par-4 404-yard 12th test.
“Start of my season was really bad before the U.S. Open,” Ryu said. “But I go back to Korea after the U.S. Open, and I recheck for my shots and kind of my clubs and everything. I come back to the U.S. and the KPMG (Women’s PGA Championship in June), and after that, it’s really good shots and everything. After that, I have more confidence for my shots, and my putting is really good, too.
“Really proud of myself, I think. But I have one more round now, and I just trust my shots.”
Further down the board and hoping to trust their shots for a chance at this title are Americans Jennifer Kupcho (68), at 7-under, and Lilia Vu (69), at 6-under, and Australian Olympian Hannah Green (71), also at 6-under.
Meanwhile, the top Canadian is superstar Brooke Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., who scored a 3-under-69 Saturday to move into 18th at 2-under 214 on the leaderboard.
The next Canucks on the ladder are veterans Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimee Leblanc at even-par 216. Sharp, from Hamilton, Ont., shot a 3-under 69, while Leblanc, of Sherbooke, Que., posted a 1-under 71 during the third round.
“Really solid day,” added Henderson, who drew the bulk of the fans — again — at Earl Grey Golf Club. “Really happy to get six birdies on the card. Unfortunate to drop three shots with three bogeys, but I’m right there. I think the birdies are really exciting and feel like I am really trending in the right direction … hopefully.
“Feel like get a couple more putts to fall (Sunday) would be great and finish this week on a high.”