KLPGA Tour 2021 Season Opening Round Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open Day 3: 2-Stroke Lead, Lee Da-yeon 2nd, Jang Ha-na 3rd
Lee So-mi is teeing off at the 6th hole on the third day of the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open. Photo by KLPGA
[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] It is So-mi Lee's (21) 'Moving Day Spurt.'
On the 10th, at Lotte Skyhill Golf Course in Seogwipo, Jeju Island (Par 72, 6,301 yards), during the third day of the 2021 season opening event of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, the Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open (total prize money 600 million KRW), So-mi Lee surged to the top of the leaderboard (6-under 210) by posting a daily best 3-under par. Da-yeon Lee (24, Mediheal) is in second place, two strokes behind (4-under 212), and Ha-na Jang (29, BC Card) is chasing in third place, three strokes behind (3-under 213).
So-mi Lee recorded five birdies and two bogeys amid strong winds in Jeju. Although a bogey on the 2nd hole (par 4) was unsettling, she sparked momentum with three consecutive birdies from the 4th to 6th holes. Her 'pinpoint iron shots' stood out, landing 5.2 yards on the 4th hole (par 5), 1.8 yards on the 5th hole (par 3), and 0.7 yards on the 6th hole (par 4). After a bogey on the 8th hole (par 3), she recovered with a birdie on the 11th hole (par 4), then on the final 18th hole (par 5), she closely placed her third shot 0.7 yards from the hole to easily add another birdie.
So-mi Lee is the player who earned her first victory last October at the Huen Care Ladies Open. Notably strong at seaside golf courses, such as South Links Golf Course in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, where she won with a 9-under score, she also benefited from a two-month training camp in Jeju from December last year to February. She introduced her strategy, saying, "When the wind blows, everyone struggles anyway," and "I focused on smart play that adapts to the wind."
Da-yeon Lee lost one stroke but still has a chance with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes at the end. The first-round leader Ha-na Jang faltered with three birdies and three bogeys but remains in contention for the title. Seul-gi Lee 2 (20, SK Networks) is in fourth place (2-under 214) with strong finishing power at 3-under par. 2019 champion Jo A-yeon (21) is tied for fifth place (1-under 215), eyeing a chance to defend her title after two years. Hye-jin Choi (22, Lotte) remained tied for 16th place (3-over 219).
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