Lopez, a former Arkansas Razorback in her first season on the LPGA Tour, finished with a 3-under-par 68 while playing behind a group that included fan-favorite and 2014 tournament victor Stacy Lewis and world No. 1 Lydia Ko.
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Former major victor Pressel held the clubhouse lead after a bogey-free 63 for a 14-under total of 128 in the 54-hole event at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers before being caught late in the day by the fast-finishing Ko.
Ko continued her mastery of the 6,330-yard layout Saturday, matching the course record with a 9-under 62 to move into a tie for with Morgan Pressel at 14 under.
Her parents, brother and coach were among a small gallery that saw Lopez, who started her day on the back nine, birdie her first hole and get to 4-under through 10 holes.
For Pressel, it was her lowest score this year.
“I’ve played well here the last three years and have had really solid Sundays”, Ko said.
Ko says she’s enjoying revisiting the Pinnacle Country Club, and had felt confident going into the three-round tournament. The New Zealander finished fourth as an amateur in the event three years ago, and followed that by finishing second and sixth over the last two years.
Jing (65), who is from China, had the early clubhouse lead at 12 under.
The 19-year-old Ko played the final eight holes in 7 under, making five birdies and the eagle.
Before speaking to reporters following her first round Friday, Morgan Pressel ran across the putting green to hug and wish Juli Inkster a happy 56th birthday. “I had more birdies than I thought I did and that motivated me more”.
Coming off her best finish of the year in a share of 13th at the Meijer LPGA Classic, Sharp carried that momentum to Arkansas, where she has climbed within two-strokes of the lead with a second round 65.
Ko, meanwhile, closed her round with a flurry while in search of her third victory of the year. However, she missed the cut at the event in each of the last two seasons before putting together her career-best round on Friday. Yan shot 65, and Kung had a 66.
“It’s a really, really loud crowd”, she said when asked of her reception there this week. She hit 11 of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation on Saturday, needing 27 putts on her way to a career low round on the course – topping an opening-round 66 she shot in 2010.
Second-ranked Brooke Henderson, who beat Ko in a playoff two weeks ago at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, missed the cut after a second-round 73 and finished at even par.
Local favourite and former No. 1 Stacy Lewis was 5 under after a 70.
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Defending champion Na Yeon Choi suffered through a 4-over 75 and sits tied for 135th in the 144-player field.
