UCLA alum Lilia Vu has been steadily trending upward at the DIO Implant LA Open, posting rounds of 74-69-66 through the first three days at Wilshire Country Club. Saturday’s 66 is her second-lowest score ever on the LPGA Tour and her three-day total of 209 is the second-lowest 54-hole total of her career. Moving Day saw 4 birdies and an eagle from the 24-year-old and she was pleased with her effort, enjoying the chance to play some weekend golf.
“I just played every hole one shot at a time,” said Vu who hit 13 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens on day three. “I know it's really cliche, but I haven't been able to do that in the past couple of weeks. I've been really struggling with my game. So after I made the cut I figured, okay, the only goal for this hole is to try and make a birdie, and if you give it a good run that's all I can do and move forward. I gave it a good run today. I love weekend golf, so once it's the weekend I think that's when I play my best golf.”
Vu currently sits in a tie for sixth at -4 and is seven shots back of leader Nasa Hataoka. While for many seven shots back would seem like too far back to have a chance at a victory, Lilia is a player that likes to chase and knows that the tricky, undulating greens can give players fits late in the round at Wilshire. Add in the support of the locals and UCLA fans and the course knowledge she has from her time as a Bruin, Lilia is a player to keep an eye out for on Sunday.
“I think it's the greens," she said. "I think also the angles from the fairways. Some of the holes are really not gettable and you have to just aim for the middle of the green and be okay with that and try to make the 20-footers from there. I think that's what makes it difficult. I like to chase because there is nothing to lose. Even when you're leading there is nothing to lose, but I like to come from behind. We're going to go for these pins for sure.”
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