BELMONT, Mich. - Lizette Salas shot a 7-under 64 on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic, putting her in position for her second tour title.
The 26-year-old former University of Southern California player birdied Nos. 14-16 and closed her bogey-free round with two pars. She had a 16-under 197 total at Blythefield Country Club.
Salas had shares of the lead after each of the first two rounds, also opening with a 64 and shooting a 69 on Friday. The 2013 U.S. Solheim Cup player won the 2014 Kingsmill Championship.
Salas birdied three of the first four holes and added another at the par-4 ninth hole to pull in front. After saving par with a 25-foot putt at 13, she hit a shot inside 2 feet at the par-3 14th for birdie and followed with a 6-footer at 15 and a 30-footer at 16.
Lexi Thompson and Michigan native Kris Tamulis were tied for second. Tamulis, whose family still summers in Northern Michigan, shot 67. Thompson had a 68.
Thompson, tied for the second-round lead with Salas and Alison Lee, missed a 4-foot putt and made bogey at 16, but birdied the par-4 18th with a 3-footer.
Lee had a 70 to drop into a tie for fourth at 6 under with Brittany Lincicome (65), Caroline Masson (65), So Yeon Ryu (65), Katie Burnett (66) and Gerina Piller (69).
World No. 1 Inbee Park, a three-time winner this year, had five birdies in a six-hole stretch and finished with a 66 to move into a tie for 10th at 5 under.
