Alison Lee of Valencia posted a 5-under-par 67 and was tied for second, three strokes behind Ha Na Jang of South Korea, who shot 66, after the third of five rounds in the final stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International Golf Club in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Lee, a sophomore at UCLA who will turn pro if she finishes in the top 20 and earns full playing status on the LPGA Tour for 2015, carded six birdies in a span of seven holes through No. 11 before carding her only bogey at No. 15.
“I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent,” said Lee, who won the Pac-12 Preview in November. “I feel pretty confident out here. I’m not giving myself too much pressure while I’m out on the golf course. I’m just trying to enjoy my time being here and just trying to play my game.
“I’ve already talked to my coach (Carrie Forsyth) and a lot of people about it, but if I get my full status on Tour I will decide to accept it and turn pro, but I think I’m really lucky to be out here and have a plan B. I think that’s why I’m playing with a lot less pressure, because even if I don’t get my card I can still go back to school and play for the team.
“I try not to think about it too much. I try to have the same mentality that I had today, and in the past two days, and not over think it.”
Sophia Popov of USC and Germany was tied for fifth after a 72 and Ryann O’Toole of San Clemente and USC was tied for 11th following a 73.
Emily Talley of Napa shot 70 and was tied for 19th, and Kim Welch of Sacramento totaled 72 and was tied for 24th.
