Australian Stephanie Kyriacou competes in the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club, in Evian-Les-Bains, centre eastern France, on July 13, 2024. (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)
Kyriacou finds herself in unfamiliar territory as she leads an LPGA event heading into Sunday for the first time. Only this isn’t just any event, it’s a major, and the Aussie’s third-round 67 puts her in position to pull off an unlikely victory.
Currently No. 100 in the Rolex Rankings, the 23-year-old hasn’t even cracked the top 10 on the LPGA this season. She tied for seventh as an LPGA rookie at the AIG Women’s British Open and took a share of fourth at the Dana Open last year.
But this is next-level good for the two-time winner on the LET.
After three-putting the first hole, Kyriacou’s caddie offered some wise words.
“He kind of said, ‘You’re in contention in a major. Go out there and enjoy it and embrace being here. It’s something you practiced for. There is nothing to be afraid of. If you don’t win, you don’t win. You go to the next one and try,’” she said.
The pep talk worked, as she rattled off three consecutive birdies.
