'Number 1' Ko Jin-young 2nd Place "5-Under Par Moving Day Spurt"... Korda Leads for Third Day

Hugel-Air Premia LA Open Day 3 '1-Stroke Chase', Henderson 3rd, Yeo Soyoun Tied 9th

Ko Jin-young is teeing off on the 2nd hole on the third day of the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open. Los Angeles, California, USA - Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] It is the ‘Moving Day Spurt’ of world No.1 Ko Jin-young (26).

On the 24th (Korean time), at the Wilshire Golf Club in Los Angeles, California, USA (par 71, 6,450 yards), during the third day of the 7th event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season, the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open (total prize money $1.5 million), Ko Jin-young surged with a 5-under-par round to move into 2nd place (15-under-par 198 strokes), closing the gap to leader Jessica Korda (USA, 16-under-par 197 strokes) by one stroke. Brooke Henderson (Canada) is making a late charge from 3rd place (12-under-par 201 strokes).

Starting 3 strokes behind in 2nd place, Ko Jin-young recorded 9 birdies and 4 bogeys. She posted 5-under-par on the front 9 holes, showing an impressive early spurt. Her greens-in-regulation rate for three consecutive days was 83.33%, with her ‘computer iron shots’ proving powerful. The bogey on the 18th hole (par 3), where she was leading by one stroke, was rather regrettable. Her tee shot drifted left of the green, and her approach shot hit the fringe and rolled down, creating a crisis. Fortunately, her long-distance bogey putt after a ‘3-on’ saved the situation.

Jessica Korda is teeing off at the 9th hole on the third day of the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open. Los Angeles, California, USA - Getty Images/Multibits Photo by Getty Images

Korda responded with a tee shot that landed close to the hole for a birdie, maintaining her position atop the leaderboard. She was the champion of the season-opening Diamond Resort Tournament in January 2021. In the third round, she especially drew attention by shooting 11-under-par. On the final day, she clinched the trophy after a playoff battle with Danielle Kang (USA). Her younger sister, Nelly Korda, won the Gainbridge LPGA last month, completing the historic feat of ‘sisters winning two consecutive tournaments.’

From Korea, Yoo So-yeon (31, Mediheal) is tied for 5th place (9-under-par 204 strokes) along with Hannah Green (USA), and Lee Jeong-eun 6 (25, Daebang Construction) is tied for 9th place (6-under-par 207 strokes). ‘Kia Classic Champion’ Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group) remains tied for 11th place (5-under-par 208 strokes). Meanwhile, Kim Se-young (28, Mediheal) struggled with putting, shooting 5-over-par and dropping to tied 18th place (4-under-par 209 strokes). She made 2 birdies, 3 bogeys, and 2 double bogeys on the 8th hole (par 4) and 18th hole (par 3).

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