Alena Sharp slides down the leaderboard at the Women’s PGA Championship

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This article was published 26/06/2021 (1880 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alena Sharp knows this season has been tough. But even though she fell out of contention Saturday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, this week has proven the 40-year-old can still make some noise on the LPGA Tour.

“I just feel like I’m not done yet,” Sharp told the Star on Saturday from Atlanta Athletic Club, after shooting a 3-over 75 in the third round.

Sharp is tied for 13th through 54 holes and is looking for her best career result at a major championship. She tied for 17th at the 2019 ANA Inspiration.

Nelly Korda and Lizette Salas are the co-leaders at 15 under, five shots clear of a trio of golfers tied for third.

Sharp, at 4 under, is proud of her effort in Atlanta. The Hamilton native was in the penultimate group for Saturday’s third round, the first time she has been that close to the top of the leaderboard at a major in her 16-year career.

Moments like that are what keep her motivated to compete, despite most weeks facing off against golfers who are about 20 years her junior.

“It’s been a battle this year and to be in the second-to-last group at a major in the last 36 holes is a testament to my grit and grind,” Sharp said. “I’m really enjoying being out here and playing all the amazing courses we get to play and the majors —they’re obviously called that for a reason — they’re a harder test. When it gets harder out there, I like that.”

Sharp was 1 under for her round Saturday before making a double bogey on the par-4 sixth and bogeys on holes 10 and 11.

That sixth hole, Sharp said, was the only blip on an otherwise solid day. She hit 15 of 18 greens and nearly made birdies on 12, 13, 14, and 17.

“If a couple of those go in, I’m sitting at even par for the day, and I’d be happy with that,” she said. “Over the last couple of days, the birdie chances went in, but today they didn’t. That was the difference.”

Sharp admitted it was a little nerve-wracking being in the second-to-last group but she managed to navigate that well, early, especially after making birdie on the par-4 fifth. She said she was more nervous on Friday trying to back up her solid start on Thursday.

“I wanted to prove to myself that it wasn’t just a one-day thing,” Sharp said.

Fellow Canadian Brooke Henderson had just one bad hole as well Saturday. She rolled in six birdies in her third round but made a double bogey on the par-5 18th. The 10-time LPGA Tour winner shot a 3-under 69 and sits at 3 under for the tournament.

With a solid Sunday, Henderson could lock up her second straight top-10 finish at a major after finishing tied for seventh at the U.S. Women’s Open three weeks ago. Sharp, on the other hand, is looking for her first top 10 at a major.

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Although Sharp said she isn’t focused on the outcome, she knows it’s going to be hard not to be when she puts a tee in the ground on Sunday, given her results through 2021. Her best finish this season is a tie for 31st.

“Tomorrow I’m not thinking like, ‘Oh, I want to have a top 10.’ I mean, that would be great, but if it happens, it happens,” said Sharp. “I want to play another solid 18 holes tomorrow and just continue to do what I did these last three days — be committed and present on every shot.”

Sharp tees off at 12:15 p.m. EST with American Cydney Clanton, while Henderson goes at 11:55 a.m. with Australian Gabriela Ruffels.

This is the final tournament before the women’s golf field is confirmed for the Olympics. Sharp and Henderson have already locked up their spots for Canada.

Adam Stanley is an Ottawa-based contributor to the Star’s Sports section and the host of golf podcast Next Round’s On Me. Follow him on Twitter: @adam_stanley