Kim Hyo-jo, Chasing a Three-Peat, Tied for 13th in Round 3, Six Shots Behind the Leader... Japan's Yamashita Takes the Lead [LET Aramco Korea Championship]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Kim Hyo-jo (31, Lotte), who is aiming for a three-peat, stumbled. The gap with the leader widened further.

On the 10th at New Korea Country Club (par 72) in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Kim recorded four birdies and two bogeys for a total of 2-under-par 70 in the third round of the Ladies European Tour (LET) Aramco Korea Championship (total prize money of 2 million dollars).

With an intermediate total of 7-under-par 209, Kim dropped to a tie for 13th, six shots behind Miyu Yamashita (Japan, 13-under-par 203), who cut four strokes on the day and held onto the top spot for the second consecutive day.

Kim, who had carried good memories from New Korea Country Club after winning the previous two tournaments in a row, started with a tie for sixth at 4-under-par on the first day but fell to a tie for ninth by reducing her score by one stroke in the second round, leaving some regrets again on this day.

Kim, who made her first bogey on the No. 3 hole (par 4), followed up with birdies on the No. 5 hole (par 5) and the No. 8 hole (par 5) to finish the front nine one stroke under par.

After recording par on four holes in the back half, Kim cut another stroke on the No. 14 hole (par 4), but a bogey on the No. 15 hole (par 3) kept her in place. She finished the third round by reducing one more stroke on the No. 17 hole (par 5).

Kim, who started the season on a high note by winning two consecutive tournaments on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour early in the year, also claimed the top spot at the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship held before domestic fans last May. In July, she confidently won her main sponsor's event, the Lotte Open.

While aiming for her fifth victory of the season in this tournament, the gap with the leader has widened to six shots, making the final round expected to be anything but easy.

Park Sung-hyun (33, The Diva), who had jumped to a tie for second place the previous day, recorded an eagle and three more birdies on this day, but added three bogeys and one double bogey, ultimately finishing at even par. She dropped to a tie for 13th with Kim Hyo-jo at 7-under-par.

The strong performance of amateur Kim Gyu-bin (17, Haksan Girls' High School) stood out. Despite recording one double bogey and one bogey, she bundled seven birdies to post a 4-under-par 68, matching Kim Hyo-jo and Park Sung-hyun with a total of 7-under-par 209 to secure a tie for 13th place.

Former world No. 1 Zheng Ya-ni (Taiwan, 12-under-par 204) chased the leader by recording six birdies without any bogeys, closing in on Yamashita at second place, one shot behind. A fierce battle for position is expected to continue until the end.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original