'Ah, four consecutive bogeys...' Kim Sei-young still holds sole first place in the 3R... Yoon In-a jumps to joint second with a two-shot gap [LPGA]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Sei-young (33, Sportate) is just one step away from her 14th career victory on the LPGA Tour. Attention is focused on whether Yoon In-a (23, Solare), who is aiming for her first LPGA Tour title, can mount a fierce challenge.

On the 19th (Korean time), Kim Sei-young carded a 1-under-par 71 with five birdies and four bogeys during the third round of the LPGA Tour JM Eagle LA Championship (total purse $3.75 million) held at El Caballero Country Club (par 72) in Los Angeles, California, USA.

With a cumulative total of 15-under-par 201, Kim Sei-young maintained sole leadership in the third round, following her performance in the second round.

She holds a two-shot lead over the joint second-place group, which includes Yoon In-a, Hannah Green (Australia), Supatchaya Vinittham (Thailand), and Jessica Porbasnik (USA), all at 13-under-par 203.

Kim Sei-young, who won wire-to-wire at the LPGA Tour BMW Ladies Championship held in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, last October to lift the trophy for the first time in five years, now aims for her 14th career victory after six months.

After finishing joint 10th at the Honda Thailand, the season's first event in February, Kim Sei-young announced a strong start. She then finished joint third at last month's Founders Cup and has now come closest to victory with her current momentum.

Expectations are high for whether Korean players can continue their momentum into April. Among the seven tournaments this season, Korean players have already claimed the top spot three times. In particular, in March, Kim Hyo-ju followed by Lee Mi-hyang to secure back-to-back victories, boosting their momentum.

In this tournament, Kim Sei-young has taken the baton. Starting the first day with a seven-stroke reduction to joint second place, she made seven birdies with no bogeys in the second round to take sole leadership. On this day, she surged ahead with five birdies in the front nine without any bogeys, but stumbled in the final stretch with four consecutive bogeys.

After the round, Kim Sei-young said, "I really felt like I was on a roller coaster." But she added, "Golf is always like that. Such things can happen again. We learn and learn again, make mistakes and learn again. I hope for a good result tomorrow."

After making consecutive bogeys on the 2nd and 3rd holes, Kim Sei-young also hit her ball into a water hazard while boldly attempting to attack the green on the 16th hole (par 5). She stated, "From the 15th to the 18th hole, all holes were with the wind. Today, the wind made it difficult for me." She then expressed confidence, saying, "I have confidence. If I continue as I have done over the past few days, it should be fine. That is what I can do best. Please watch the results tomorrow."

Yoon In-a, who moved into sole third place by cutting eight strokes the previous day, recorded four birdies and three bogeys on this day, reducing her total by only one stroke.

In the front nine, she failed to reduce her score after a birdie on the 2nd hole (par 4) and a bogey on the 9th hole (par 3). She stumbled with consecutive bogeys on the 11th hole (par 5) and 12th hole (par 4), but then caught consecutive birdies on the 15th hole (par 3) and 16th hole (par 5), finishing with a birdie on the 18th hole (par 4) to end in joint second place.

Yoon In-a, who entered the U.S. stage last year and had to settle for missing the cut eight times and reaching the top 10 only once, is now competing strongly in her second year. After finishing joint sixth at last month's Ford Championship to record her best result since her LPGA Tour debut, she improved her standing further, moving from joint third in the second round to a higher position.

Im Jin-hee (28, Shinhan Financial Group) cut three strokes to finish joint sixth at 12-under-par 204. Lee Mi-hyang (33, Volvik) cut five strokes to move from 15th to 9th place at 11-under-par 205.

Yoo Hae-ran (25, Daol Financial Group) finished joint 19th at 8-under-par 208, Park Geum-gang (25, CJ) joint 23rd at 7-under-par 209, and Anna Rin (30, Medihill) and Ju Su-bin (22, Bumin Hospital) joint 30th at 6-under-par 210. Rookies Hwang Yu-min (23, Lotte) and Lee Dong-eun (22, SBI Savings Bank) finished joint 48th at 3-under-par 213 and joint 56th at 2-under-par 214, respectively, leaving them with regrets.

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*This content was translated by AI.