Yoo So-yeon "1-Stroke Lead"… Oh Ji-hyun in 2nd Place 'Chasing Battle'

Korean Women's Open Day 3: 1-Under Par 'Breather', Kim Hyoju 3rd, Choi Hyejin 4th, Ko Jinyoung 6th 'Positioned'

Yoo So-yeon is teeing off at the 2nd hole on the third day of the Korean Women's Open. Photo by Korean Women's Open

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is an opportunity for world No. 18 So-yeon Yoo (30, Mediheal) to collect a 'national title.'

On the 20th, at the Bears Best Cheongna Golf Club in Incheon (par 72, 6,929 yards), continuing the Kia Motors Korea Women's Open (total prize money 1 billion won) on the third day, she reduced one stroke and maintained the top of the leaderboard (12 under par 204 strokes). Ji-hyun Oh (24, KB Financial Group), the 2018 champion, is in second place (11 under par 205 strokes), Hyo-joo Kim (25), the 'Lotte Cantata Women's Open champ,' is in third place (9 under par 207 strokes), and domestic No. 1 Hye-jin Choi (21, both Lotte) and Chae-yoon Park (26, Samchully) are tied for fourth place (7 under par 209 strokes).

So-yeon Yoo started with a one-stroke lead, recording three birdies and two bogeys. After a bogey on the 4th hole, she changed the momentum with consecutive birdies on the 6th and 7th holes, and smoothly continued by making another birdie on the 13th hole (all par 4). However, it was regrettable that she lost one stroke on the 15th hole (par 4). Maintaining a one-stroke lead, she continued her chance for her 10th KLPGA Tour win in 4 years and 10 months since the 2015 High1 Resort Women's Open. She expressed her determination, saying, "I will stay focused on the final day."

So-yeon Yoo has won the China Women's Open in 2009, the US Women's Open in 2011, the Canadian Women's Open in 2014, and the Japan Women's Open in 2018. If she wins this tournament, she will achieve a rare record of capturing 'national titles' in five countries. Ji-hyun Oh added one under par and is expecting the winner's trophy for the first time in two years. Hyo-joo Kim also recorded four under par, closing the gap to three strokes behind the leader. Chae-yoon Park surged into the championship race with a daily best of six under par.

Ko Jin-young is making an iron shot on the 1st hole on the third day of the Korea Women's Open. Photo by Korea Women's Open

World No. 1 Jin-young Ko (25) lost one stroke and is tied for 6th place (6 under par 210 strokes) with Se-young Kim (27, Mirae Asset), Ha-rim Kim (31, Samchully), and others. Hee-jung Lim (20), Min-young Lee (28, both Hanwha Q CELLS), Ah-yeon Cho (20, Volvik), and Ji-young Park (24, CJ O Shopping) are tied for 9th place (4 under par 212 strokes). Jeong-eun Lee6 (24, Daebang Construction) is tied for 15th place (3 under par 213 strokes), Hyun-kyung Park (20, Korea Land & Trust) is tied for 20th place (2 under par 214 strokes), and Bo-mi Lee (32) is tied for 27th place (1 under par 215 strokes).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.