This story is courtesy of the LPGA Symeta Tour

HARRIS----Madelene Sagstrom (Enkoping, Sweden) hit a 326-yard drive on her final hole and nearly made eagle to take the outright lead, but settled for birdie to close at 1-under, 71 on Saturday at the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass Golf Club.

Sagstrom moved to 5-under, 139 to share the 36-hole lead with Peiyun Chien, who posted an even-par 72.

Sagstrom, who already has two wins and six top 5 finishes, will go for her third win on Sunday which would give her a “Battlefield Promotion” to the LPGA for the 2016 season.

The 23-year-old was a little frustrated after missing a 7-foot eagle putt on nine, but was overall pleased with how she handled the wind, which wrecked havoc on the field and hit 22-miles-per-hour at its peak.

“I’m happy with how the day turned out because I kind of got off to a little rough start mentally,” said  Sagstrom. “I’m not the biggest fan of the wind and I think it is tough. I hit the ball really well from tee to green, but I just couldn’t get the putter going.”

After two bogeys on her first seven holes, Sagstrom rebounded with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to make the turn at even for the day. Sagstrom reiterated that she feels very comfortable on Sweetgrass Golf Club and is ready for Sunday.

“I love this golf course, but I’m hoping for the wind to die down a little bit,” said Sagstrom, who has already set the single-season earnings record ($104,903). “I don’t mind a little breeze, but I want it to be fair for everybody. I’m really excited to go out there tomorrow and stick my head into it and grind it out.”

There are seven players within two shots of the lead so Sagstrom is expecting a drama filled Sunday.

“There are so many players so it could go either way, you just don’t know,” said the rookie. “You can lose a stroke pretty fast out here, but I think whoever grinds until the 18th is going to have a good chance.”

Sagstrom and Chien will play in a two-ball Sunday in the final-group starting at 12:30 p.m. The expected finishing time is 4:45 p.m. and the trophy ceremony will take place immediately following play on the 18th green.

The Island Resort Championship is once again set up for a wild finish. The winner each of the last two years has won by just a shot. In 2013, Kim Kaufman won in a playoff.