Se-young Kim Leads, Jin-young Ko in 2nd Place: "Who Will Be the Final Winner?"

CME Group Tour Championship Day 3: Second Day of Lead Battle, Hole 3 in 3rd Place, Park In-bi Tied 28th

Kim Sei-young is teeing off on the 18th hole on the third day of the CME Group Tour Championship. Naples, Florida, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] This time, Kim Sei-young (27, Mirae Asset) is in the lead.

On the 20th (Korean time), at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, USA (par 72, 6,556 yards), during the third day of the final event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season, the CME Group Tour Championship (total prize money $3 million), she surged with a 5-under-par round to take a one-stroke lead (13-under-par 203 strokes). Ko Jin-young (25), who led after the second round, scored 3-under-par and is in second place (12-under-par 204 strokes), with the two players still fiercely competing for the championship.

Kim Sei-young recorded six birdies and one bogey. Her 265-yard long drives and an impressive green hit rate of 83.33% with pinpoint iron shots stood out, complemented by 28 precise putts. This tournament is especially significant as last year she added 2-under-par on the final day to win by one stroke (18-under-par 270 strokes) on what is known as her "promised land." The LPGA Tour rolled over the CME Globe points No. 1 bonus of $1 million into the winner's prize, resulting in a massive $1.5 million (1.65 billion KRW) jackpot.

This year, the winner's prize is $1.1 million, and for Kim Sei-young, a consecutive victory would propel her to the top in both prize money and Player of the Year standings. Currently ranked No. 2 in the world, depending on Ko Jin-young's performance, she could even aim for the No. 1 spot. Ko Jin-young's form is formidable. After staying in Korea due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved to the U.S. last month and has twice finished in the top positions, including a runner-up at the U.S. Women's Open in three tournaments.

The leading group is followed by Georgia Hall (England) in third place (10-under-par 206 strokes), and four players including Brooke Henderson (Canada) tied for fourth place (9-under-par 207 strokes). Park In-bee (32), who leads in both prize money and Player of the Year, recorded 1-under-par for three consecutive days and is tied for 28th place (3-under-par 213 strokes), joined by Yoo So-yeon (30, Mediheal) and Shin Ji-eun (28). "ANA Champion" Lee Mi-rim (30, NH Investment & Securities) is tied for 37th place (1-under-par 215 strokes).

Ko Jin-young is making a bunker shot on the 9th hole on the third day of the CME Group Tour Championship. Naples, Florida, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

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