Charley Hull Charges Up the Leaderboard as Final Round Looms in Saudi
With moving day in the books at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, England’s Charley Hull has positioned herself right in the thick of contention heading into the final round. The world No. 5 delivered a composed, confident five-under 67 on Friday at Riyadh Golf Club, reminding the field-and fans-why she’s one of the most dangerous players on a Sunday leaderboard.
Hull’s round was a textbook example of steady aggression. She poured in six birdies, navigating the course with precision and poise.
Her only stumble came at the 10th, where she carded a bogey, but it barely dented the momentum she built across the rest of the round. At 12 under overall, she’s just three shots back from the leaders and very much in the hunt for the title.
The top of the leaderboard is currently shared by South Korea’s Hye-jin Choi and Japan’s Rio Takeda, both sitting at 15 under. Choi and Takeda have been models of consistency through three rounds, and they’ll need every bit of that calm under pressure come Sunday. Just one shot behind them is South Africa’s Casandra Alexander at 14 under, keeping the pressure on and setting up what promises to be a tightly contested final round.
Also lurking are some big names with plenty of firepower. Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and American Alison Lee are part of a seven-player logjam at 13 under. Both have the experience and the game to make a serious run at the trophy.
Meanwhile, it was a tougher day for England’s Mimi Rhodes. After leading through two rounds, Rhodes couldn’t find the same rhythm on Friday. A level-par 72 saw her slip back into a tie for 13th at 11 under-still within reach, but she’ll need something special on Sunday to climb back into contention.
With a stacked leaderboard and just a few shots separating the top contenders, the final round is shaping up to be a thriller. Hull’s experience, Choi and Takeda’s consistency, and the firepower of players like Ciganda and Lee all point to a dramatic finish in Riyadh. Buckle up-this one’s far from over.