Lee Seung-yeon's Moving Day Excitement "1-Stroke Behind in 2nd Place"... Kim Hyo-joo Leads for Third Consecutive Day

Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship Day 3 5-Under Surge, Kim Suji 3rd, Park Hyunkyung Tied 10th

Lee Seung-yeon is making a chip shot on the 7th hole on the third day of the Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The "Little Giant" Lee Seung-yeon (24, SK Networks) is enjoying a "Moving Day breeze."

On the 30th, at Ildong Lake Golf Course in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,689 yards), during the third day of the first major of the 2022 KLPGA Tour season, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), she posted the daily best score of 5-under par, climbing to 2nd place (12-under par 204 strokes). LPGA member Kim Hyo-joo (27, Lotte) leads with 13-under par 203 strokes, and Kim Su-ji (26, Dongbu Construction) is in 3rd place (11-under par 205 strokes).

Starting from a tie for 3rd place, 3 strokes behind, Lee Seung-yeon displayed flawless play with 5 birdies and no bogeys. She reduced 3 strokes in the front nine with consecutive birdies on holes 5 and 6 and another birdie on hole 9 (par 4). In the back nine, she added 2 more birdies on par 5 holes 12 and 15, powered by her powerful long drives. Lee Seung-yeon turned professional in 2016 and joined the regular tour in 2019. During her rookie year in April 2019, she won the Nexen Saintnine Masters.

Her powerful long drives come from her small stature of 160 cm. Last year, she ranked 1st in average driving distance (250.97 yards), and this year she is 7th (254.28 yards). Last week at the Nexen Saintnine Masters, she finished tied for 7th, gradually improving her condition. On this day, she showcased her "superhuman strength" by hitting a tee shot of 297.5 yards on the 6th hole (par 4). She is just 1 stroke behind the leader, aiming for her second KLPGA Tour win in three years.

Kim Hyo-joo is reading the putting line on the 7th hole on the third day of the Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Kim Hyo-joo added 3-under par to maintain her position at the top of the leaderboard for the third consecutive day. After winning her first LPGA Tour title of the season at the Lotte Championship in the U.S. on the 17th, she immediately returned home to pursue the major trophy. Overseas player Kim Ah-rim (27, SBI Savings Bank) shot 4-under par to rise to a tie for 4th place (10-under par 206 strokes). Lee Ga-young (23, NH Investment & Securities) is tied for 6th (9-under par 207 strokes), and Lee So-mi (23, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 8th (7-under par 209 strokes).

Park Hyun-kyung (22, Korea Land Trust) posted a clean round with 2 birdies, placing her in a tie for 10th (6-under par 210 strokes). However, she is 7 strokes behind the leader, making a three-peat at the tournament after 40 years unlikely. "Mediheal Champ" Park Ji-young (26, Korea Land Trust) is tied for 10th, "Domestic No. 1" Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities) is tied for 13th (5-under par 211 strokes), and "Nexen Saintnine Champ" Yoo Hae-ran (21, Daol Financial Group) is tied for 26th (2-under par 214 strokes).

Park Hyun-kyung is teeing off at the 2nd hole on the third day of the Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

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