'Number 1' Ko Jin-young Quadruple Bogey "What Happened on the 17th Hole?"... Hataoka 'Victory Secured'

Day 3 of Dio Implant LA Open: Critical '6-on 2-putt' at 17th Hole, 2nd on Green, Park In-bi and Kang Hye-ji Tied for 3rd

Ko Jin-young is teeing off at the 2nd hole on the third day of the Dio Implant LA Open. Los Angeles, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] A red light has turned on for world No. 1 Ko Jin-young's (27) 'march to a second victory.'

On the 24th (Korean time), at the Wilshire Golf Course in Los Angeles, California, USA (par 71, 6,447 yards), during the third day of the LPGA Tour DIO Implant LA Open (total prize money $1.5 million), Ko Jin-young struggled with a 1-over-par round and remained tied for 3rd place (6-under-par 207 strokes). Nasa Hataoka (Japan) leads with 11-under-par 202 strokes, and Hannah Green (Australia) added 2-under-par to stand 4 strokes behind in 2nd place (7-under-par 206 strokes), engaging in a tough chase.

Ko Jin-young recorded 4 birdies, 1 bogey, and 1 quadruple bogey. Starting tied for the lead, she made her first birdie on the 2nd hole (par 5), then endured a tedious stretch of pars over 10 holes before sparking momentum again with 'stepping stone birdies' on the 13th and 15th holes. The bogey on the 16th hole (par 4) was unfortunate. With Hataoka making a birdie, Ko quickly fell 2 strokes behind to 2nd place. A bigger crisis came on the 17th hole (par 4) when her second shot landed in the left water hazard beside the green.

It was surprising that Ko Jin-young attempted a trouble shot from the mud. However, the ball hit a concrete wall and bounced backward, and her fourth shot also landed in the water. After a one-stroke penalty, she took '6 shots on the hole with 2 putts,' resulting in a devastating quadruple bogey. She consoled herself with a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 3). Being 5 strokes behind the leader and considering her 7-under-par daily best from the previous day, she still remains in contention for the title. South Korea's Park In-bee (34, KB Financial Group) and Kang Hye-ji (32) joined the tie for 3rd place.

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