NAPLES, Fla. — Patty Tavatanakit showcased her putting skills, while Jake Knapp made critical par saves, helping their UCLA team achieve a remarkable score of 6-under 66 on a challenging foursomes day. This strong performance allowed them to maintain a two-shot lead in the Grant Thornton Invitational.

Tavatanakit made two impressive 12-foot birdie putts late in the front nine at Tiburon Golf Club, while Knapp kept the team momentum intact with a series of difficult par putts. Following their solid play, they now sit at 20-under 124, two strokes ahead of fellow competitors Tom Kim and Jeeno Thitikul. This event, which pairs players from both the PGA Tour and LPGA, has seen Thitikul demonstrating her skill recently by winning the CME Group Tour Championship and its lucrative $4 million prize last month. Notably, she made a challenging bunker shot on the par-3 16th hole, keeping her team in contention with a score of 64.

In contention as well are Akshay Bhatia and Jennifer Kupcho, who recorded a score of 68, landing them three shots off the lead. Both Tavatanakit and Knapp proudly represent UCLA, although Knapp is a few years senior to Tavatanakit.

“It was a grind,” Tavatanakit remarked, drawing from her experience as an LPGA major champion at the ANA Inspiration. “We’re both good at grinding it out. It’s enjoyable to perform under pressure, especially when you’re out of position and need to save par or make crucial birdies.”

Tavatanakit had significant moments during the latter part of the day amidst occasional rain. She sunk an 18-foot birdie on No. 16, breaking a tie with the “Tom & Jerry” team, referring to Thitikul’s nickname for the event in homage to the beloved cartoon. On the par-5 17th hole, Knapp’s tee shot went far right with a 6-iron, but despite dealing with a muddy ball, Tavatanakit impressively pitched over the bunker, running the ball four feet past the cup to set up an easier birdie attempt.

The final day of the tournament will feature a modified four-ball format, where both players will tee off and then continue playing one another’s golf balls until the hole is completed. Defending champions Lydia Ko and Jason Day are in the hunt as well, having recorded a score of 67, trailing by five shots.