Large Fourier coefficient from a deficit of three-term progressions (${\max }_{r\ne 0}|\widehat{1_A-\alpha }(r)|>{\alpha }^2/2$)

In a cyclic group of odd prime order, the normalized ordered three-term arithmetic progression count is ${\sum }_r\widehat{1_A}(r{)}^2\widehat{1_A}(-2r)$. The zero frequency contributes ${\alpha }^3$. If the count is less than ${\alpha }^3/2$, its nonzero-frequency contribution has magnitude greater than ${\alpha }^3/2$. The Parseval identity on a finite group bounds that magnitude by $\alpha {\max }_{r\ne 0}|\widehat{1_A-\alpha }(r)|$, proving the displayed estimate. The count includes progressions of zero common difference.