“It’s always special,” Knight said. “I have someone up there watching over me. He’s always with me.”
Hae Ran Ryu likewise shot 67 and was 2 shots back together with Hannah Green, who shot 69. Knight and Green are the only gamers to have 3 rounds in the 60s at Wilshire.
Green played her very first 12 holes in 3 over however birdied 5 of her last 6.
“I thought the front was actually quite difficult. It was a little bit of a different wind direction, but it was also gusty, so picking the right moments for the club that you decide to hit was quite difficult,” Green said. “I knew there was some holes coming in that I could possibly make some birdies, but to birdie 17 and 18 was obviously a really great finish, and I’m really excited for tomorrow.”
Gemma Dryburgh birdied 3 of her very first 5 holes, shot 66 and was 3 back. Xiyu Lin (66) and second-round leader Aditi Ashok (72) were another shot behind.
Knight, ranked No. 60 on the planet, won her only LPGA Tour title in 2019 at the Volunteers of America Classic in her home state of Texas. The number 33 turned up then, too. She shot 33 on each 9 to close with a 66.
Now, she’s in good position for a 2nd triumph.
“I think nerves are normal,” Knight said. “I’m always going to be nervous and embrace the nerves. If you’re not nervous, it doesn’t mean anything to you. I’ll try to embrace the nerves. This is why I practice. I want to be in these positions. I want to give myself a chance on Sunday.”
NOTES: Knight’s sweetheart, Easton Stick, a backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, remained in her gallery.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Jill Painter Lopez, The Associated Press