Haenam: Kim Sei-young is on the cusp of a significant victory at the LPGA tournament in South Korea as she leads the BMW Ladies Championship through 54 holes. She is aiming to achieve a wire-to-wire victory at the Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, on Sunday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim managed an impressive three-under 69 in the third round, bringing her total to 19-under, which secured her a four-stroke lead over competitors Yealimi Noh of Korean American descent and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka. Her performance included five birdies, an eagle, and four bogeys, maintaining her position at the top of the leaderboard since the start of the tournament.
Kim’s journey to this lead began with a staggering 10-under 62 on Thursday. She is on the hunt for her first LPGA win since November 2020 and has shown consistency throughout the week. Despite a few setbacks, such as bogeys on the front nine and the 16th hole, her eagle on the 17th left her five shots clear momentarily, closing the round with a bogey to hold a comfortable lead.
This performance marks the second time Kim has led or co-led after the first three rounds in a tournament, the previous being the 2019 CME Group Tour Championship, which she won. Historically, Kim has secured victory in eight of the 12 tournaments where she led after three rounds. A win on Sunday would also set her as the 27th different winner of the LPGA season, marking a new record, and she could join fellow South Koreans Ryu Hae-ran and Kim A-lim as wire-to-wire champions this season.
Kim, aiming for her first LPGA win on home soil, emphasized her determination despite the lead. “I’ve been struggling since my last victory in 2020 because I felt too content with what I’d accomplished up to that point,” Kim stated. “I am trying to adopt the mindset of a rookie.”
She acknowledged the challenging windy conditions of the third round but remains optimistic for the final day. “I think everyone will put up good scores tomorrow with the wind expected to die down a bit,” she added. “The final round will be a battle against myself.”
In other standings, South Korea’s Lee So-mi is tied for fifth at 13-under, and Kim A-lim is tied for eighth at 12-under, showcasing strong performances from South Korean athletes in the tournament.