She has played the weekend in all six starts this season with a pair of top-25 results. But Xiyu “Janet” Lin is looking for more. The Olympian made a strong push up the leaderboard at Wilshire Country Club on Friday with a 4-under par 67 in the third round of the HUGEL-Air PREMIA LA Open.

After a bogey at the par-5 2nd, Lin settled in and found a groove on No. 4.

“It was playing hard. I don’t know why but definitely felt hard,” said Lin, who hit 16 greens in regulation. “Second hole, I missed like not even a two-footer [for par]. But then I tell myself, just let it go. It happens on poa annua greens. I stayed patient and made a really long putt on the par-3 [fourth]. That was like a turning point.”

Lin never looked back, going bogey-free the rest of the way. She also turned in a 32 on the back nine and that included a bit of a surprise to close moving day in Los Angeles.

“I always feel like the back nine has way more opportunities, so I just keep doing the same things and it worked out pretty well,” said Lin, who is -6 overall. “When I made the turn, I felt like my game is really good and just need to stay aggressive. Last hole, I was a bit nervous because I haven’t hit the green last two days. I’m like somehow let me make a par. The shot turned out really good and I was like, ‘Okay, now I should expect a birdie.’”

Having worked her way up from a tie for 33rd into the top-15, Lin continues to rely on her mentality and positive reinforcement to fight back when push comes to shove.

“I just keep telling myself to be fair to myself,” Lin said. “There are days with some things I’m not doing right. But I keep telling myself the stuff I’m doing good. You have to admit the stuff you’re doing okay.

“Just like at the beginning today, it was frustrating to make bogey on the par-5 when I had a 10-footer for birdie and then I end up with bogey. I kept telling myself ow good the shot [in] was and how well I have been hitting. I should believe I am going to get it back.”

Fair to Herself, Janet Lin Shows Wilshire Who’s Boss

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