‘Number 1’ Ko Jin-young's Strength "Tied 3rd, 3 Strokes Behind"… Korda 'Takes Lead'

Gainbridge LPGA Day 3: 6-Under Surge, Tabatanakit 2nd, Choi Woon-jung Tied 6th, Sorenstam 74th

Ko Jin-young is walking on the fairway with an umbrella on the 4th hole of the Gainbridge LPGA third day. Orlando, Florida, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the strength of 'Number 1' Ko Jin-young (26).

On the 28th (Korean time), at the Lake Nona Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, USA (par 72, 6,701 yards), during the third day of the second event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season, the Gainbridge LPGA (total prize money $2 million), Ko Jin-young surged with a 6-under-par round to leap to a tie for 3rd place (10-under-par 206 strokes). Nelly Korda (USA) took the lead (13-under-par 203 strokes), while Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand) is chasing in 2nd place (12-under-par 204 strokes).

Starting from a tie for 16th place, 6 strokes behind, Ko Jin-young collected 7 birdies (1 bogey). She lost the birdie at the 2nd hole (par 5) with a bogey at the 4th hole (par 3), but regained momentum with a birdie at the 7th hole (par 4). In the back nine, she showed fierce stamina with consecutive birdies at the 11th and 12th holes and a three-birdie streak from the 14th to 16th holes. Her precise shots stood out, missing the fairway only twice and the green just once. She is 3 strokes behind the leader, aiming for her 8th career win since the CME Group Tour Championship last December.

Nelly Korda is teeing off on the 3rd hole on the third day of the Gainbridge LPGA. Orlando, Florida, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

World No. 4 Korda shot 4-under-par to top the leaderboard. Tavatanakit, who debuted last year, created a 'dark horse' surge by reducing 6 strokes. Lydia Ko (New Zealand), who led for two consecutive days, faltered with an even-par round. Angel Yin (USA), who posted the daily best 7-under-par, is tied for 3rd place. Lexi Thompson (USA) is tied for 6th place (9-under-par 207 strokes), and Brooke Henderson (Canada) is tied for 8th place (8-under-par 208 strokes), both looking for opportunities.

Korea's Choi Woon-jung (31, Volvik) is tied for 6th place, Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) tied for 8th, and Yang Hee-young (32, Woori Financial Group) and Shin Ji-eun (29, Hanwha Q CELLS) are tied for 21st place (4-under-par 212 strokes). 'Number 2' Kim Se-young (28, Mirae Asset) exchanged 3 birdies for 3 bogeys and could not reduce her score, sitting at 63rd place (2-over-par 218 strokes). Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), the '51-year-old veteran' who returned to the LPGA Tour after 13 years, collapsed with a 7-over-par round and dropped to 74th place (9-over-par 225 strokes).

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