Jersey City, N.J.— In blustery conditions at Liberty National, Atthaya “Jeeno” Thitikul delivered a brilliant third-round performance on Saturday, carding a 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open.
Battling fierce winds that forced the LPGA to move several tees forward, Thitikul overcame a double bogey at the turn by pouring in nine birdies throughout her round. Her late charge, including birdies on holes 16 and 17, lifted her to a 14-under total of 202, setting the stage for a thrilling Sunday finish.
“The plan today was just to stay in the fairway, hit greens, and be patient,” said Thitikul, currently ranked No. 2 in the world. “It wasn’t easy out there, but I kept my focus and took my chances when I could.”
France’s Celine Boutier kept pace with a strong 66, finishing the day just one shot behind Thitikul. She ignited her round with a long, curling 40-foot birdie on the 15th that sparked a run of three consecutive birdies. A solid par on the 18th closed out her bogey-free round.
“It was a tough day, but the course setup gave you some chances if you hit good shots,” Boutier said. “I’m really pleased to be in this position heading into Sunday.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda stayed in the hunt with a composed 68, despite missing two key birdie opportunities late. Korda drained a 15-foot birdie from just off the green on the scenic 14th hole, which hugs the Hudson River with views of the Manhattan skyline, and added another birdie on the 17th. But a missed opportunity on 18 kept her at 12-under, two shots back.
“These conditions demand total focus,” Korda said. “You know mistakes will happen in wind like this, but overall, it was a solid round.”
Andrea Lee matched Korda’s 68 for the third straight day, joining her at 12-under. Yealimi Noh made a big move with a chip-in eagle on the 16th, finishing with a 67 and just three shots off the lead.
Thitikul’s week has been a rollercoaster—opening with a sparkling 64, struggling to a 73 in the second round, and then roaring back with Saturday’s wind-tamed 65. After a double bogey on the sixth, she immediately responded with two birdies and added three more early on the back nine to retake control of the leaderboard.
Final round tee times have been moved up Sunday to accommodate a network TV broadcast on CBS, with coverage concluding at 3 p.m. ET. Winds are expected to ease, which could open the door for lower scores and an even tighter finish.
“It’s going to be a different kind of challenge,” Boutier said. “If it’s calmer, we might see some low rounds, but anything can happen out here.”
With a packed leaderboard and a dramatic final day looming, Liberty National is set for a compelling conclusion to the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open.
