Lauren Coughlin Leads, Nelly Korda Surges at Aramco Championship

Coughlin maintains slim lead heading into final round as Korda makes push at wind-swept Shadow Creek

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:10am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lauren Coughlin maintained her lead at the Aramco Championship in Las Vegas, carding a 1-over 73 in the third round to sit at 7-under par. However, world No. 2 Nelly Korda made a strong push with a 3-under 69, moving within two strokes of Coughlin heading into the final round. The wind-swept Shadow Creek course has proven challenging, with low scores hard to come by throughout the tournament.

Why it matters

The Aramco Championship is a new co-sanctioned event between the LPGA and Ladies European Tour, offering a $4 million purse. With Coughlin and Korda, two of the top players in the world, battling for the title, the final round is shaping up to be an exciting conclusion to this inaugural tournament.

The details

Coughlin, who led by five shots after the first two rounds, struggled a bit on Saturday, carding four bogeys to go with three birdies. However, she was still able to maintain her lead. Korda, meanwhile, made a charge with four birdies and just one bogey to move within two shots of the lead. The course conditions at Shadow Creek have been extremely challenging, with high winds making it difficult for players to control their shots and stop the ball on the firm greens.

  • On Saturday, Coughlin shot a 1-over 73.
  • Korda carded a 3-under 69 on Saturday.
  • The final round will be played on Sunday.

The players

Lauren Coughlin

An American professional golfer currently leading the Aramco Championship after three rounds.

Nelly Korda

The world's No. 2 ranked female golfer, who is two shots behind Coughlin heading into the final round.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen

A Danish professional golfer tied for third place at 3-under par.

Miyu Yamashita

A Japanese professional golfer tied for third place at 3-under par.

Leona Maguire

An Irish professional golfer in fifth place at 1-under par.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I felt like I did a pretty good job today of at least getting in spots, and if (() did get a little out, making sure I walked away with no worse than bogey. As you've probably seen, this golf course is really, really hard.”

— Lauren Coughlin

“It's good momentum, but tomorrow is just going to be another beast of a day.”

— Nelly Korda

“It's a very hard golf course, and I think with the wind the past couple days it hasn't really helped us. In fact, it's so firm, too, so it's very hard to stop golf balls. You're almost just playing for a run-up. So, there is no really advantage to being a longer hitter maybe. It's all just about placement here.”

— Nelly Korda

“It's been fun. I like it here at Shadow. It's a great golf course. It challenges every part of the game. No, I've had a lot of fun out there.”

— Nanna Koerstz Madsen

What’s next

The final round of the Aramco Championship will be played on Sunday, with Coughlin holding a slim two-shot lead over Korda. The wind and firm course conditions are expected to continue to provide a significant challenge for the players.

The takeaway

The inaugural Aramco Championship has showcased the talent and competitiveness of the world's top female golfers, with Coughlin and Korda battling for the title on the challenging Shadow Creek course. The final round on Sunday promises an exciting conclusion to this new co-sanctioned event between the LPGA and Ladies European Tour.