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XIAMEN，Dec. 7-- Lin Xiyu put herself within reach of capturing the Macalline Women’s China Open on Saturday as the Guangdong native shot a two-under 70 in the third round of the national championship for a two shot lead in Fujian province. Through 54-holes at Orient Xiamen, Lin was four-under 212 at the RMB2.1 million championship, the final tournament of the China LPGA Tour season. Thailand’s Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul was alone in second after a 70. China’s Liu Yan (70) was three strokes off the pace in third, a shot ahead of compatriot Du Mohan who carded her third consecutive round of even-par 72. Guangdong native Sui Xiang, the overnight leader, ballooned to a 76 to sit equal fifth with China No. 1 Feng Shanshan (74), Ren Yue (69) and Chinese Taipei’s Chien Pei-yun (74) at five shots back. Lin, the first round leader, started the day a shot back and quickly got to work with a birdie three at the 364-yard first to regain a share of the lead. She then made bogey at the par-five next. Her round included seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey at the par-four last. The US LPGA Tour regular called her round “pretty smooth” but lamented she had four three-putts on a sunny but windy day. “I tried to manage the course by not going to some spots that I know it is going to be hard to save par. Overall, on this windy day, the greens are fast so I am happy with an under-par round,” said the 23-year-old who last won in 2017. | 
