LPGA rookie and Australian younger gun Grace Kim is hanging powerful on the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii.
The 22-year-old Kim shot a two-under 70 within the third spherical to be only one behind chief Yu Jin Sung (71), heading into the ultimate spherical at a windy Hoakalei Nation Membership on Saturday.
Kim, who performs on the Epson Tour, made birdies on the primary, 10th and 11th, however a bogey on 14 disadvantaged her of a share of the eventual lead.
South Korean Sung is taking part in on a sponsor exemption after successful the 2022 LOTTE Open on the Korean LPGA.
“I have never actually thought in regards to the successful half,” Sung stated. “There’s nonetheless a day left on this event. Once more, not likely excited about successful, however simply attempting to point out my finest golf recreation.”
She opened with a birdie on the par-5 first, dropped a stroke on the par-4 13th and rebounded with a birdie on the par-4 14th.
“It is a very tough course and it is actually windy in the present day, so I attempted my finest to only ease and play that approach,” Sung stated.
Kim is joined by Georgia Corridor (71) and Linnea Strom (71) in second, with 13 gamers inside three strokes of one another on the prime of the leaderboard.
“I am very joyful to be on this place,” Strom stated. “I have been working very arduous to be right here. So, it is good to see some arduous work repay.”
Thailand’s Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, tied for the lead after every of the primary two rounds, had a 73 to fall right into a tie for fifth at 7 beneath with Lauren Hartlage (70), Christina Kim (71) and Nasa Hataoka (71).
The 20-year-old Vongtaveelap is making her second LPGA Tour begin. In February, she received her first two occasions as a professional on the Thai LPGA Tour, then was second behind Lilia Vu within the LPGA Thailand.
Brooke Henderson, at No.7 the highest-ranked participant within the area, had two back-nine bogeys in a 69 that left her 6 beneath. The Canadian birdied 5 or her first seven holes. She’s the one a number of winner in occasion historical past, taking the 2018 and 2019 titles at Ko Olina.
“The entrance 9 was quite a lot of enjoyable,” Henderson stated. “I used to be making quite a lot of birdies and giving myself quite a lot of good alternatives. Sadly, dropped a pair pictures right here on the again 9. Hopefully, simply go on the market and do the identical factor the primary 9 holes and simply clear this up somewhat bit.”
Bailey Tardy (65) was additionally 6 beneath with Celine Boutier (67), Peiyun Chien (69) and Siyun Liu (70).
Defending champion Hyo Joo Kim was 1 over, following a second-round 78 with a 71.
The Chevron Championship, the primary ladies’s main championship of the yr, is subsequent week in Texas.
