Paula Reto carded a one-under-par 71 in the third round on Saturday to stay inside the top 10 heading into the final round of the LPGA Tour’s third round of the TOTO Japan Classic at Seta Golf Course in Otsu, Shiga, Japan.
It was only just inside the top 10 as she shared 10th on seven-under, eight strokes behind the leaders, Yuna Araki and Nasa Hataoka. The Japanese duo reached 18-under after rounds of 65 and 68 respectively. They led by one from another Japanese player, Miyu Yamashita.
Reto’s battles on the back nine continued in the third round as she made two of her three bogeys on the way in. She had made two birdies on the front nine before dropping a shot on nine, and then immediately again on 10. She picked up strokes on 15 and 16, and then dropped another shot on 17.
That’s where Reto had given up nearly all the strokes she had gained on the front as she went three-over-par on the back nine through the first two days, which included three bogeys on Friday. What has been the difference over the course of the two nines? Reto said it’s been a change in approach that she’ll need to adjust.
“Every time my back nine, the wind started to pick up a little bit, so maybe I’m playing a little safe,” Reto said about her strategy.
This week marks Reto’s fourth consecutive start during the LPGA Tour’s fall swing through Asia. It’s all part of a push for the South African to make up some ground in the latter part of the season as she doesn’t just want to contend this weekend for her second career win on tour, but also position herself for a chance to compete in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
Reto comes into the TOTO Japan Classic ranked 83rd in the Race to the CME Globe. She’ll need a top showing this week in Japan, along with another strong finish next week at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, if she wants to get into the Tour Championship. Players ranked inside the top 60 in the season-long points race will get into the field and that will be finalized upon the conclusion of next week’s tournament.
