KLPGA Long Hitter Lee Dong-eun in 4th Place, Close to Earning LPGA Tour Card

1-under par over 21 holes at LPGA Q-Series Final
Tour card secured if top 25 maintained through final 11 holes of Round 4
Yan Jing leads; Bang Shinsil and Lee Jeongeun6 tied for 39th

Lee Dong-eun, a long hitter on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, is on the verge of making her way to the United States.

On December 8 (local time), at the Magnolia Falls Course (par 71) and Crossings Course (par 72) in Mobile, Alabama, Lee reduced her score by one stroke over the remaining 14 holes of the third round and the first 7 holes of the fourth round at the LPGA Qualifying (Q) Series Final Stage, moving into fourth place at 9-under par. Over a total of 21 holes, she recorded 6 birdies and 5 bogeys. If Lee finishes within the top 25 after the final 11 holes of the fourth round, she will secure an LPGA Tour card for the 2026 season.

Lee Dong-eun is on the verge of securing a LPGA Tour card. Provided by KLPGA

The LPGA Q-Series Final Stage was originally scheduled for five rounds and 90 holes, but due to inclement weather and course conditions, it was shortened to four rounds and 72 holes. There is no cut, and the top 25 finishers will earn the right to compete on the LPGA Tour next year.

In the remaining 14 holes of the third round, Lee posted 5 birdies and 3 bogeys, finishing the round in the lead. In the fourth round, which started at the 10th hole (par 4), she made bogeys at the 11th (par 4) and 14th (par 3) holes, then picked up a birdie at the 16th (par 5) before play was suspended due to sunset.

Yan Jing (China) took the top spot on the leaderboard at 11-under par through 10 holes of the fourth round. Sakurai Kokona (Japan) and Helen Briem (Germany) are in joint second place at 10-under par, trailing by just one stroke.

Among Korean players, Jang Hyojun and Joo Subin are tied for eighth at 7-under par, while Yoon Mina is tied for 31st at 2-under par. Bang Shinsil made a significant move by reducing her score by six strokes, climbing from a tie for 94th to a tie for 39th at 1-under par, keeping her hopes for a regular tour card alive. Lee Jeongeun6 is also tied for 39th, Annie Kim is tied for 85th at 6-over par, and Shin Bi is tied for 100th at 9-over par.