Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading

Kim Hyo-joo maintains LPGA Lotte Championship lead

South Korea's Kim Hyo-joo tees off on the 14th hole on the way to the 54-hole lead in the LPGA Lotte Championship at Hoakalei Country Club in Hawaii. ©AFP

Los Angeles (AFP) - South Korea's Kim Hyo-joo had two late birdies to maintain her three-shot lead Friday in the third round of the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii.

Kim, 26, posted an even-par 72 at Hoakalei Country Club for a 10-under-par total of 206 going into Saturday's final round.

She was three strokes clear of American Brianna Do and Japan's Hinako Shibuno.Do matched the low round of the day with a five-under-par 67 while Shibuno signed for a 68.

It was a further stroke back to Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow and South Korean Lee So-mi, who both carded 69s for 210.

Kim, the world number 13 whose four LPGA titles include a major triumph at the 2014 Evian Championship, opened the day with a three-shot lead that dwindled with her bogeys at the seventh and 12th.

But she birdied the par-four 14th and almost holed out for an eagle from a greenside bunker at 18.

"It was very important because it was a matter of over-par or not," she said of her finishing birdie."I had a chance at the 16th hole, but I missed so I was a little angry.Now I feel much better since I made a birdie on the last hole."

Kim said the windy conditions were difficult.

"There was a lot of wind going back and forth," she said."I think it was difficult because it was not specifically (in one) direction."

Do, chasing a first LPGA title, got off to a hot start with birdies at her first three holes, finishing with six birdies and one bogey.

Shibuno surged late, with birdies at the 10th, 11th, 14th and 17th in a bogey-free effort.

Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who won last year at Kapolei before the tournament moved this year to Hoakalei, carded a one-over 73 that left her at one-over for the tournament and tied for 33rd.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.