Kim Hyoju's Fierce Effort "Tied 9th, 9 Strokes Behind"... Korda and Salas 'Tied for Lead, 5 Strokes Apart'

Third Major KPMG Women's Day 3: 2 Under Par, Tawattananakit Tied 3rd, Jeon In-ji Tied 17th, Park In-bi Tied 34th

Kim Hyo-joo is teeing off on the 2nd hole on the third day of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Johns Creek, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the determined effort of Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte).

On the 27th (Korean time), at the Atlanta Athletic Golf Club in Johns Creek, Georgia, USA (par 72, 6,831 yards), the third day of the third major of the LPGA Tour season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (total prize money $4.5 million), Kim added 2 under par to stand tied for 9th place (6 under par 210). Nelly Korda and Lizette Salas (both from the USA) are co-leaders (15 under par 201), and 'ANA Champ' Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand) among three players are tied for 3rd place (10 under par 206).

Starting tied for 10th place, 7 strokes behind, Kim Hyo-joo recorded 4 birdies and 1 double bogey. She was cruising with consecutive birdies on holes 4 and 5 and a birdie on hole 7 (par 3), but was abruptly stopped by a double bogey on hole 11 (par 4). Fortunately, she changed the momentum with a birdie on hole 12 (par 5) and secured a place for the final day. Her long drives averaging 277 yards and accurate tee shots, missing the fairway only twice, stood out. Although she is 9 strokes behind the co-leaders, she is in a position to enter the season's first major 'Top 10'.

Korda posted 4 under par, dominating the top of the leaderboard for the second consecutive day. After last week's Mayak Classic, she is aiming for her third win of the season with two consecutive victories. Tavatanakit surged with 7 under par to chase the leader. For Korea, Jeon In-ji (27) is tied for 17th at 3 under par, Choi Woon-jung (31) tied for 26th at 2 under par, defending champion Kim Se-young (28) and Yoo So-yeon (31) tied for 31st at 1 under par, and Park In-bi (33) tied for 34th at even par. 'Number 1' Ko Jin-young (26) finished tied for 56th at 4 over par.