South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim has a chance to win her first major trophy in nine years.
South Korean Hyo-Joo Kim shot a 4-under 68 in the third round of the AIG Women’s Open ($9 million purse), the final major of the season on the Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour, at Walton Heath Golf Club (par-72) in Surrey, England, on Wednesday (Sept. 13).
With an 8-under-par 208 total, Kim enters the final round in a tie for third place, just one stroke behind co-leaders Lilia Boo (USA) and Charley Hull (England).
Kim, who won her first LPGA Tour title in 2014 at the Evian Championship, has won four more times but has yet to add a major championship to her resume.
Kim, who is seeking her sixth LPGA Tour victory in a year and four months after winning the Lotte Championship in April, is also looking to erase the disappointment of her runner-up finish at the Friedgroup Scottish Women’s Open a week ago.
Kim got off to a shaky start in the third round, dropping a shot on the par-4 first hole.
She bounced back with a birdie on the seventh (par-4) and another birdie on the 10th (par-4), but a bogey on the 11th (par-5), where she needed to get back to even par, seemed to derail her.
However, Kim turned things around with a birdie on the 13th (par-4) and then three straight birdies on the 15th through 17th to move into the lead.
She even holed a 13-meter birdie putt on the par-3 17th.
Her green play was outstanding, as evidenced by the fact that she had 27 putts in regulation, down from over 30 in the first and second rounds.
Kim said, “It was very windy, so it was difficult, but I focused on the second half and it was fine. My short game and putting went really well,” she said, “and I hope I can carry this feeling into tomorrow.”
After admitting that her putting was particularly good, Kim revealed that she and her teammate Ji Eun-hee bought pork belly from a supermarket near her hostel and grilled it to give her a boost.
Shin, who is coming off a runner-up finish at the U.S. Women’s Open, shot a 3-under 69 and is tied for seventh at 5-under 211, four shots behind the leader.
Shin is the only player in the field to win the AIG Women’s Open twice. In 2008 and 2012, when she won, the event was known as the British Women’s Open.
“My ball striking was good overall, only the greens were a little difficult,” said Shin, “but I tried to trust the wind and believe in myself, and it worked out. There were a lot more Korean fans than yesterday, so that was encouraging.”
Yang Hee-young also shot a 5-under 67 to move into a tie for ninth place (4-under 212).
Lee Jung-eun will look to break into the top 10 from a tie for 15th (2-under 214).
Jin Young Ko dropped two strokes to tie for 17th (1-under par 215). Shin Ji-eun and Kim Ah-rim are also tied for 17th going into the final round.
It was a moving day in the standings.
Boo, who rose to the top of the leaderboard after winning the Chevron Championship, the first major of the season, swept seven birdies to cut five strokes and look to win her second major of the season. Boo has two wins this year, including the Honda Classic.
Hull, who will be cheered on by his home fans, shaved four strokes to stay in contention.
Hull, who has two career victories – the 2016 Tour Championship and last year’s Volunteers of America – was born and raised in Kettering, two hours from the venue, Walton Heath Club.
Eunjul In (USA) shot a 5-under par to move into a one-shot tie for third place with Hyo Joo Kim.
Ally Ewing (USA), who shot 10-under par in rounds one and two to take a five-stroke lead into the third round, struggled with five bogeys and carded a 3-over 75 to drop to two shots back in fifth place (7-under 209).
World No. 1 Nelly Coda (USA) is tied for ninth (4-under 212) after posting a mixed scorecard of one eagle, five birdies and four bogeys.
Celine Boutier (FRA), looking to win her third straight title after the Amundi Evian Championship and the Ladies European Tour’s Friedgroup Scottish Women’s Open, 카지노사이트넷 slipped to a tie for 54th (3-over par 219).