Hong Jeong-min 'Leader for Three Consecutive Days'... "Challenge, Wire-to-Wire Victory"

Hong Jeong-min 4 Under Par in 3rd Round of Hana Financial Group Championship
Kim Su-ji 2nd Place 2 Strokes Behind, Choi Min-kyung 3rd
Yoo Hae-ran Tied 21st, Park Min-ji Tied 28th

Hong Jeong-min is making an iron shot on the 6th hole of the 3rd round at the KLPGA Tour Hana Financial Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seohee] Hong Jeongmin (20) maintained her lead for the third consecutive day.

On the 1st, Hong Jeongmin shot a 4-under-par 68 in the third round of the KLPGA Tour Hana Financial Group Championship (total prize money 1.5 billion KRW) held at Bears Best Cheongna Golf Club in Incheon (par 72, 6,745 yards). With a cumulative score of 15-under-par 201, she stayed at the top of the leaderboard. She is two strokes ahead of Kim Suji (26), who is in second place with 13-under-par 203.

Hong Jeongmin recorded five birdies and one bogey. Starting with a bogey on the 2nd hole (par 4), she immediately made up for the mistake with a birdie on the 6th hole (par 4). Her performance in the back nine shone brightly. She secured birdies on the 10th, 13th, 15th, and 17th holes, significantly lowering her score. She relied on a fairway hit rate of 85.71% and a green in regulation rate of 88.89%.

There is interest in whether Hong Jeongmin can achieve a 'wire-to-wire' victory and claim her second win of the season. She earned her first win of the season at the Doosan Match Play Championship in May, but aside from that, she has not posted notable results. The tournaments where Hong Jeongmin made the 'top 10' this season are limited to the Doosan Match Play Championship (win), Daebo House D Open (10th place), and KG·Edaily Ladies Open (10th place).

Kim Suji continued her fierce pursuit by shooting 7-under-par. Her concentration in the back nine stood out, especially as she swept five consecutive birdies from the 13th hole (par 4) to the 17th hole (par 5). This is her chance for a second consecutive win following last week's OK Financial Group Park Seri Invitational victory.

Choi Minkyeong (29) rose to third place with 10-under-par 206, while rookie leader Lee Yewon (19), Lim Heejeong (22), Ji Hansol (26), and Jaravee Boonjan (Thailand) formed a tie for fourth place with 9-under-par 207.

Yoo Haeran (21), who was tied for second place until the previous day, fell to a tie for 21st place (5-under-par 211) after shooting 4-over-par 76. Park Minji (24), the top money earner, also dropped to a tie for 28th place (3-under-par 213) after shooting 3-over-par 75.

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