YPSILANTI, MI. – The NAIA No.1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds had the best round in the field for the third straight day at the NAIA Championship, shooting a combined +8 to move to +17 on the tournament and increase their lead to 15 strokes.
The 'Birds were not as dominant as they were during their tournament-best round of even par on day two, but UBC matched two other schools at +8 on Thursday and gained more ground on the other 12 teams that survived cutdown day on Wednesday at Eagle Crest Golf Club.
UBC is now 30 or more shots ahead of the entire field, save two teams tied for second. Defending champion and NAIA No.2-ranked Keiser University used their own round of +8 to vault into an exact tie with No.8-ranked Marian (IN) (+11) at a combined +32 for the event, 15 back of the 'Birds.
FULL LEADERBOARD
Jessica Ng was the best of the blue and gold for a third straight day and maintained her tournament lead with a 72 (E) to stay at -6 for the event. Right behind her now however is SCAD Savannah's Sharon Shan, who shot a 69 (-3) to move to within one stroke of Ng at -5 for the tournament. Only one other player is under par after 54 holes, NAIA No.1-ranked player Butpapaporn Sukterm of Lindsey Wilson carded a 71 (-1) on Thursday to move to -1 overall, five back of Ng ahead of the final 18.
While third-year Ng may be stealing the spotlight for UBC, all four of her graduating senior teammates are more than holding their own, helping to propel the T-Birds to an ever-increasing advantage.
Bo Brown was the next best 'Bird in round three, tallying a 73 (+1) to continue her climb up the leaderboard and move into a tie with teammate
Una Chou (74, +2) for ninth place, at a total of +7. Close behind is
Grace Bell, whose 77 (+5) on Thursday has her in 15
th place at +9 for the tournament. Rounding out the team is
Elizabeth Labbe, who continued her bounce back from a difficult opening day with a 78 (+6) on Thursday to sit just outside the top-50 at +21 for the event.
UBC will look to close out what could be a historic third NAIA title in four years on Friday, when the team will once again start last in the final groups of the morning on the first tee, beginning at 6:10 a.m. (PT).
