Lee Jeong-eun 6's Smooth Sailing "Tied 6th, 5 Strokes Behind"... Maguire and Alex Tied for Lead, 4 Strokes Ahead

by Roh Woolae

Published 05 Feb.2022 08:50(KST)

2022 Season Round 3 LPGA Drive On Championship Day 2: Lewis Tied 3rd, Hong Ye-eun Tied 9th, Korda Tied 45th

Lee Jeong-eun 6 is carefully examining the putting line on the 10th hole during the second day of the LPGA Drive On Championship.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Hot Six’ Lee Jeong-eun6 (26, Daebang Construction) is sailing smoothly.

On the 5th (Korean time), at the Crown Colony Golf Club in Fort Myers, Florida, USA (par 72, 6,526 yards), during the second day of the third event of the 2022 LPGA Tour season, the LPGA Drive On Championship (total prize money $1.5 million), she added 3 under par to maintain a tie for 6th place (8 under par 136 strokes). Leona Maguire (Ireland) and Marina Alex (USA) are running ahead in a tie for first place (13 under par 131 strokes), 4 strokes ahead.

Starting from a tie for 6th place, 2 strokes behind, Lee Jeong-eun6 recorded 1 eagle, 4 birdies, and 3 bogeys. She gained momentum with ‘stepping stone birdies’ on holes 10 and 12, then took a breather with a bogey on hole 14 (par 3), before riding a steep upswing with an eagle on hole 18 (par 5). In the back nine, she recovered bogeys on holes 2 and 4 with birdies on holes 5 and 8. She relied on long drives averaging 278 yards and 26 ‘stingy putts’. She is 5 strokes behind the co-leaders, making a strong push necessary in the final third round.

Maguire swept up 7 birdies without any bogeys to quickly take the top of the leaderboard. She debuted in 2020 and has yet to win a tournament. Alex reduced 6 strokes and led for two consecutive days. Stacy Lewis is tied for 3rd place (9 under par 135 strokes), and Lexi Thompson (both USA) are tied for 6th. Hataoka Nasa (Japan), who was the leader the previous day, struggled with 3 over par and dropped to a tie for 28th place (4 under par 140 strokes). ‘Number 2’ Nelly Korda (USA) is tied for 45th place (2 under par 142 strokes).

Hong Ye-eun is teeing off on the 4th hole on the second day of the LPGA Drive On Championship. Fort Myers, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

Korea’s rookie Hong Ye-eun (20, CJ O Shopping) reduced 3 strokes to rise to a tie for 9th place (7 under par 137 strokes). Jeon In-ji (28) is tied for 16th place (6 under par 138 strokes), and Park In-bi (34, both KB Financial Group) is tied for 21st place (5 under par 139 strokes). Choi Hye-jin (23, Lotte) shot 3 under par to climb to a tie for 28th place. Ahn Na-rin (26, Mediheal) and Kim A-rim (27, SBI Savings Bank) are tied for 36th place (3 under par 141 strokes), while Yang Hee-young (33, Woori Financial Group) and Shin Ji-eun (30, Hanwha Q Cells) are tied for 45th place.