Isomi Leads Two Days in a Row... 'First Win of the Season' in Sight

SK Networks·Seoul Economic Ladies Classic 3R 14 Under Par
Yu Haeran·Lee Jeongeun6 Tied 2nd, 1 Stroke Behind
Park Hyunkyung·Kim Suji Also in Contention for Victory

Lee So-mi is teeing off at the 1st hole of the 3rd round of the SK Networks·Seoul Economic Ladies Classic. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter Seohee Lee] Lee Somi (23) held the lead for two days and came close to her first win of the season.

On the 29th, Lee Somi shot 5-under-par 67 with 7 birdies and 2 bogeys in the third round of the SK Networks·Seoul Economy Ladies Classic, part of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, held at Pinx Golf Club (par 72) in Seogwipo, Jeju. Her total score stands at 14-under-par 202, leading the tournament alone.

Starting the day tied for first place, Lee Somi had a strong start with 3 birdies and 1 bogey on the front nine. She continued her momentum on the back nine, making birdies from the 10th hole, but made a bogey on the 11th hole (par 4), which prevented her from lowering her score further. However, she added stepping-stone birdies on the 14th and 16th holes, rising to a tie for first place with Yoo Hae-ran (21) and Lee Jeong-eun6 (26). Then, on the final 18th hole (par 4), she sank a 5.8-yard birdie putt to finish the round as the sole leader.

Lee Somi has not won since the Daeyu Winia·MBN Women’s Open last August. Her best result this season was second place at the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open in April.

However, she cannot easily expect victory. Yoo Hae-ran and Lee Jeong-eun6 are tied for second place at 13-under-par 203, just one stroke behind, threatening her lead. Both Yoo Hae-ran and Lee Jeong-eun6 lowered their scores by 5 strokes today, moving up from tied third to tied second.

Yoo Hae-ran, ranked fourth in prize money, plans to join the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour after this season. Before securing her LPGA Tour card, she has expressed determination to lift a winner’s trophy on the KLPGA Tour to finish the season on a high note.

Lee Jeong-eun6, currently active on the LPGA, aims for a win in her second domestic tournament this season. She participated in the Chris F&C Championship in April but finished 50th.

Strong competitors also occupy fourth and fifth places. Park Hyun-kyung (22) recorded a 5-under-par 67 with 5 birdies and no bogeys, rising to fourth place overall. “Autumn Queen” Kim Su-ji (26) dropped to fifth after only lowering her score by 3 strokes today, but she remains just 3 strokes behind the leader.

Before the final round, Lee Somi said, “I will just play as I practiced. I believe the win will follow if I do what I practiced.”

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