Mayakoba, Quintana Roo, May 24, 2025.– The 23-year-old American rookie, Jenny Bae, took a very important step towards what could be her first victory in the LPGA Tour, after delivering a third round card of 71 strokes, one under par, with a total of 209 (-7), to keep the first place in the MEXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, which takes place at El Camaleón Golf Course in Quintana Roo.

Bae, 222nd in the women’s world rankings, had an overwhelming start to the day, with consecutive birdies on holes 1, 2 and 3, to place with -9. A bogey on the sixth hole put a stop to her overwhelming pace and another on the 18th deprived her of a greater advantage over her rivals. The native of Georgia, United States, has three professional titles in the Epson Tour, so she is looking for her debut in the highest category of women’s golf.

China’s Yuhai Zhang and Japan’s Chisato Iwai are tied for second place with just one stroke behind, both at 210 (-6) with one round to go, so they remain in contention for the championship.

The 19-year-old, 225-ranked Zhang, who is in her rookie season on the circuit, carded five birdies, including two on the final holes to close strong and climb eight places up the leaderboard.  Named Epson Tour Rookie of the Year in 2024, she has achieved only one top 20 in the season in six appearances, which occurred at the Ford Championship in Arizona.

Meanwhile, the also Japanese rookie Chisato Iwai, signed a round of four birdies on holes 4, 5, 17 and 18, with no bogeys, which allowed her to return to the first places, after her fall to tenth place in the second round, after finishing leader on the opening day. Chisato, 45th in the Rolex World Rankings, is also in search of her first LPGA crown.

In fourth place in the competition is Australian Gabriela Ruffels, who shot a 71 (-1) to place herself two behind the leader with a cumulative score of 211

(-5). Gabriela, 25 years old and ranked 65th in the world, is in her second season on the LPGA Tour.

The only Mexican who remains in the tournament, Maria Fassi, had a remarkable improvement in relation to her previous rounds, with a round of 71 strokes, one under, to total 218 (+2). The player from Hidalgo, got birdies on holes 4, 5 and 14, besides closing brilliantly with an eagle on the 18th, which allowed her

to climb three positions to place T44, tied with four other players, even though she also had four bogeys.

“I’m happy to close with the eagle on 18 and be able to give all the people at the hospitality something to celebrate. It was a round in which I struggled a lot, with very good shots, others a little weak at times, but very happy that, despite everything, I finished with a score under par. Now, I have to prepare everything to go out tomorrow, give it my all and try to climb as many positions as possible”, said the Mexican.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda did not have the round she was hoping for, carding a round of 73 (+1) to place 215 (-1) in T23rd place.

British Charley Hull, ranked 15th in the world, had a round under par with 70 strokes (-2), which brought her total to 217 (+1), placing her in 39th place.

Meanwhile, Swiss Albane Valenzuela, whose father is Mexican, fell to 54th place with a round of 73 strokes (+1) and a total of 220 (+4).

This Sunday, the last day of activities with the fourth round, will begin at 7:20 a.m. local time and the awards ceremony will take place at the end of the day.

The MEXICO Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba has 2.5 million dollars in prize money, of which the winner will receive the largest prize of 375,000.