Jennifer KirbyThe Canadian Press
Canada's Jennifer Kirby continued her strong play to move into the top 10 Friday in the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament.
The Paris, Ont. golfer carded a second straight round of 69, this time on the LPGA International's Jones Course, to leave her in a tie for seventh at 7-under par. While that is 13 shots behind leader Jaye Marie Green, as long as she is in the top 20 by the time Sunday's final round is completed, the final score is pretty much a non-factor.
The field will be cut to the top 70 and ties after Saturday's fourth round. Natalie Gleadall of Stratford, Ont., with her best round of the week on Friday, is tied for 46th along with Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que. Eric Rivard of Tecumseh, Ont. posted her best round of the week, 69, to move up into a tie for 58th along with Lorie Kane of Charlottetown.
Kane, a four-time winner on the LPGA Tour, is playing this week to try and improve her priority standing which would get her into more tournaments next year.
Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont. is tied for 65th which leaves her right on the cut line at 3-over heading into Saturday's fourth round.
Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que., who earned her card at q-school a year ago, is two strokes off the cut line while Ashley Sholer of Hamilton, Ont., Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., and Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont. all have some work to do if they hope to make the final round cut.
Another player in danger of missing the cut is Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods' niece. She was tied for 107th at 7 over.
Green pushed her lead to seven strokes Friday while Mi Rim Lee jumped to second with a course-record round 61 to break the previous mark set on Wednesday by Green.
Green's 20-under 196 total is a record for three rounds since the event became a 90-hole event.
The top 20 after the final round Sunday will earn full status on the LPGA Tour in 2014 while Nos. 21-45 and ties will receive conditional status. Anyone making the final round cut will also get status on the developmental Symetra Tour next year.
(Files from the Associated Press were used in this report)