Samantha Wagner went bogey-free to grab a share of the Junior PGA lead. (Montana Pritchard, PGA of America)
Windermere’s Samantha Wagner grabbed a share of the Junior PGA Championship lead with a bogey-free 69 Thursday in Fort Wayne, Ind., setting up an 18-hole sprint for the title with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn.
Wagner carded three birdies in her tour of Sycamore Hills Golf Club, holding steady with her third straight round under par. Jutanugarn, who cruised to the title by 10 shots a year ago, struggled to a roller-coaster 71.
“Everything was working well today,” Wagner told a PGA of America liaison. “I was making putts, I was chipping well, I was hitting fairways and greens. Ariya struggled a little bit, but we both shot under par.”
The Circle Christian standout, who already has given a verbal commitment to Florida, and Jutanugarn both completed three rounds in 9-under 207. Lurking two shots off the pace are Jutanugarn’s sister Moriya (68) and Californian Allison Lee (69).
Ariya Jutanugarn’s card was decorated with six birdies, five bogeys and just seven pars. “I could not hit my driver and my irons were bad, too,” she said. “My putting was so good, but I did not have chances.”
Wagner is seeking to become the third Floridian to capture the Junior PGA in the past four years. Current LPGA rookie Lexi Thompson (Coral Springs) and new U.S. Amateur Public Links champion T.J. Vogel (Cooper City) swept the titles in 2009.
Robby Shelton of Wilmer, Ala., moved in front of the boys’ division after breaking the Sycamore Hills record with an 8-under-par 64. He takes a one-stroke lead into the final round over Cameron Champ of Sacramento, Calif.
