Season's Third Major KPMG Women's PGA Championship Day 3: '3 Over Par' Slump, Thompson Tied 2nd, Green 5th
Jeon In-ji shows a disappointed expression immediately after her tee shot on the 5th hole of the third day of the third major of the season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Bethesda (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Flying Dumbo’ Jeon In-ji (28) maintained her position at the top of the leaderboard for three consecutive days.
On the 26th (Korean time), at the Blue Course (par 72, 6,894 yards) of Congressional Golf Club in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, during the third day of the third major of this LPGA Tour season, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (total prize money $9 million), she lost 3 strokes but still led by 3 strokes (8 under par 208). Rookie Choi Hye-jin (23), Kim Se-young (29), and Lexi Thompson (USA) are chasing in a three-way tie for second place (5 under par 211).
Jeon In-ji started with a 6-stroke lead, making only 3 birdies but giving up 4 bogeys and 1 double bogey. She exchanged 3 birdies and 3 bogeys over 14 holes, maintaining her score, but faltered with a bogey on the 15th hole (par 4) and suffered a critical double bogey on the 16th hole (par 5). Her putting count soared to 31, and her greens in regulation dropped to 72.22%. Nevertheless, she continues to lead wire-to-wire, keeping her chances alive for the victory.
Jeon In-ji secured her ‘LPGA Tour direct ticket’ by winning the major US Women’s Open in July 2015. In her debut year, September 2016, she won the Evian Championship with the lowest score ever recorded in a men’s or women’s major, establishing herself as a ‘big match’ contender. However, she has not won since the KEB Hana Bank Championship held in Korea in October 2018, a drought of 3 years and 8 months. This year, she has one top-10 finish in 13 tournaments. Her best result this season is a tie for second place at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in March.
Rookie Choi Hye-jin is walking with her caddy, smiling at the 18th hole on the third day of the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Bethesda (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits
Rookie Choi Hye-jin recorded 4 birdies and 2 bogeys. She stayed at even par in the front nine but showed strong finishing power with 2 birdies on the 10th hole (par 3) and the 15th hole in the back nine. Her precise shots, missing the fairway only twice and the green only three times, were her driving force. After finishing 3rd at the Lotte Championship in April and the major US Women’s Open on the 7th, she is now in a prime position for her first victory. World No. 12 Kim Se-young also reduced her score by one stroke and joined the race for the title.
Hannah Green (Australia) is in 5th place (4 under par 212), while ‘ShopRite Champ’ Brooke Henderson (Canada), ‘Rookie No. 1’ Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), and ‘2-win champ’ Jennifer Kupcho (USA) are tied for 6th place (3 under par 213), eyeing a comeback. ‘US Women’s Open Champ’ Minjee Lee (Australia) is tied for 10th place (2 under par 214), and defending champion Nelly Korda (USA) is tied for 29th place (1 over par 217). From Korea, Ko Jin-young (27) is tied for 12th place (1 under par 215), and Park In-bee (34) is tied for 35th place (2 over par 218).
Kim Sei-young is walking with an umbrella right after her tee shot on the 15th hole on the third day of the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Bethesda (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits
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