Lee Minji's Strength "Leading by 1 Stroke"... Song Gaeun and Kim Suji Tied for 2nd Place

Hana Financial Group Championship Day 3: Yu Hae-ran and Lim Hee-jung, Ji Han-sol Tied 4th; Lydia Ko and Jang Ha-na Tied 7th

Lee Min-ji is reading the putting line on the 1st hole on the third day of the Hana Financial Group Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the resilience of Minji Lee (Australia), the 'Evian Champ.'

On the 2nd, at Adonis Golf Course in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province (Par 71, 6,480 yards), during the third day of the KLPGA Tour Hana Financial Group Championship (total prize money 1.5 billion KRW), she posted a 4-under-par round to take the top spot on the leaderboard at 13-under-par 200. Ga-eun Song (21, MG Saemaeul Geumgo) and Su-ji Kim (25, Dongbu Construction) are tied for 2nd place at 12-under-par 201, while Haeran Yoo (20, SK Networks), last week's Elkru winner, is tied for 4th at 11-under-par 202, eyeing a chance for a comeback.

Starting from a tie for 2nd place, one stroke behind the leader, Minji Lee collected five birdies and one bogey. Although she started shakily with a bogey on the 4th hole (par 4), she changed the momentum with consecutive birdies on the 5th and 6th holes. In the back nine, she showed strong finishing power with birdies on the 11th and 14th holes, and again reduced one stroke on the final 18th hole (par 5). Leading by one stroke, she is poised for her first victory on the domestic stage. Sponsored by Hana Financial Group, Minji Lee is a top-level player with six career wins on the LPGA Tour.

Yoo Hae-ran is making an iron shot on the 1st hole on the third day of the Hana Financial Group Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Haeran Yoo surged into the winning competition with a daily best 7-under-par round. She is only two strokes behind the leader. Hee-jung Lim (21, Korea Land & Housing Corporation) and Han-sol Ji (25, Dongbu Construction) are tied for 4th place, while Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Hana Jang (29, BC Card), who is second in prize money, and defending champion Anna Lin (25, Moon Young Group) are among seven players tied for 7th place at 10-under-par 203, just three strokes behind. So-mi Lee (22, SBI Savings Bank), who was the leader the previous day and a two-time champion, shot even par and dropped into this group.