PAJU: South Korean golfer Sung Yu-jin is on the brink of her first LPGA victory after a stunning performance in the third round of the BMW Ladies Championship, held at Seowon Hills at Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Sung delivered a flawless nine-under 63 on Saturday, positioning herself two strokes behind the 54-hole leader, Hannah Green of Australia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 23-year-old Sung will join Green and Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa, who is in third place at 15-under, in the final group on Sunday. Sung, who earned her LPGA card last December, has consistently made 12 cuts in 16 tournaments this season, with her best finish being a top-10 result at the Dow Championship in June.
The BMW Ladies Championship, introduced in 2019, has seen significant success for South Korean players, with Jang Hana and Ko Jin-young winning in 2019 and 2021, respectively. In recent years, Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Minjee Lee of Australia, both of Korean descent, have claimed the tit
les in 2022 and 2023. The tournament experienced a delay due to heavy rain on Friday, forcing players to complete the second round on Saturday morning before proceeding with the third round.
Hannah Green, who led with consecutive 64s, slipped to a 70 in the third round, allowing Sung to close the gap with an impressive performance, including six birdies on the back nine. Sung’s accuracy was evident as she hit 17 out of 18 greens in regulation.
Ryu Hae-ran, the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year, is also in contention, posting a bogey-free 68 to stand at 14-under. Ryu is one of only two South Korean players to win on the LPGA Tour this year, alongside Amy Yang. Meanwhile, Lydia Ko is tied at eighth with a group of players at 12-under, and Minjee Lee sits at 10-under after a third-round 66.