The leader after three rounds of the inaugural LPGA Tournament of Champions, worth $700,00, was a model of consistency Friday, shooting 3-under-par 69 to overtake struggling second-day leader Betsy King.
Lopez's 54-hole total of par 216 left her one shot ahead of King, who began the third round with a four-stroke advantage over Lopez, Dawn Coe-Jones and Dottie Mochrie.
"I feel confident, comfortable and calm. That's unusual for me early in the year," said Lopez, who missed the first two LPGA tournaments of the season and had not played a competitive round of golf since October before coming to the Tournament of Champions.
Only two players broke par in the first two rounds. On Friday, eight players posted subpar scores to position themselves for Saturday's final round on the tough North-South course at Grand Cypress Resort.
First-day leader Lauri Merten rebounded from a second-round 78 to shoot 70. She is three shots back at 219, followed by Coe-Jones (73) and Donna Andrews (71) at 220. Brandie Burton shot and was among four golfers at 6-over 222.
"I think there will be some good golf to see (Saturday)," said King. "The conditions here are similar to what you see in a major tournament. That brings out the best in the top players."
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