Choi Hye-jin and Kim Hyo-joo "Tied 5th, 3 Strokes Behind"... Titikun Leads by 1 Stroke

Choi Hye-jin and Kim Hyo-joo 6-Under Par on Third Day of BMW Ladies Championship
Lydia Ko and Andrea Lee Tied for 2nd, Kim Min-sol 7th, Hong Ye-eun Tied for 9th
Choi Woon-jung Tied for 13th, Kim Ah-rim Tied for 19th, Ko Jin-young 'Withdraws Due to Injury'

Rookie Choi Hye-jin is making an iron shot on the 1st hole of the third day of the BMW Ladies Championship. Photo by BMW Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the first victory opportunity for "Rookie No. 2" Choi Hye-jin (23).

On the 22nd, Choi Hye-jin surged with a 6-under-par round on the third day at Oak Valley Golf Club in Wonju, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,647 yards), the only domestic LPGA Tour event, the BMW Ladies Championship (total prize money $2 million), rising to a tie for 5th place (12-under-par 204). "Rookie No. 1" Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) leads (15-under-par 201), with Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and Andrea Lee (USA) tied for 2nd place (14-under-par 202).

Starting from a tie for 8th place, 6 strokes behind, Choi collected six birdies without any bogeys. She started fresh with "stepping stone birdies" on holes 2 and 4, then maintained par for eight holes. She made a birdie on the 13th hole (par 4) and showed a fierce finishing kick with three consecutive birdies from holes 15 to 17. Her power comes from an average drive of 270 yards and a 100% fairway hit rate. She is 3 strokes behind the leader, making a final day comeback possible.

Thitikul posted a 5-under-par round to dominate the top of the leaderboard. This is her third win of the season following victories at the JTBC Classic in March and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in September. Lydia Ko reduced her score by 6 strokes and joined the battle for the title. Andrea Lee, who was the leader the previous day, dropped in ranking with a 2-under-par round. Lilia Vu (USA) is in 4th place (13-under-par 203).

From Korea, Kim Hyo-joo (27) lowered her score by 6 strokes to join the group tied for 5th place. National team reserve Kim Min-sol (16, Suseong Bangtong High School 1st year) is 7th (11-under-par 205), Hong Ye-eun (20) tied for 9th (9-under-par 207), Choi Woon-jung (32) tied for 13th (8-under-par 208), and Kim A-rim (27) tied for 19th (6-under-par 210). Defending champion Ko Jin-young (27), who was at the bottom after the second round, withdrew due to a wrist injury.

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