Yang Hee-young (34, Woori Financial Group) announced her prospects for winning the first major tournament in her life by climbing to the top on the third day of the Chevron Championship (total prize money of 5.1 million dollars), the first major tournament of the LPGA tour season.
In the third round of the tournament held at The Club at Carleton Woods (par 72? 6824 yards) in Woodland near Houston, Texas on the 23rd (Korean time), Yang Hee-young tied 8 birdies and 1 bogey and shot 7 under par 65.
Yang Hee-young, who recorded an interim total of 9 under par 207 strokes, tied for third place with Megan Kang (USA) and Alban Valenzuela (Switzerland). It is only one stroke behind Angel Inn and Allison Corpers (above USA), who tied for the lead with 10 under par 206 strokes.
If Yang Hee-young continues his momentum until the 4th round and takes first place, he will reach the top of the LPGA Tour for the first time in about 4 years since winning the Honda LPGA Thailand in January 2019 and achieve 5 wins in total. He will also lift the trophy of his first major championship.
Yang Hee-young got off to a good start with consecutive birdies on the 3rd hole (par 3) and 4th hole (par 5). Afterwards, she succeeded in 3 consecutive birdies from the 7th hole (par 3) and increased her momentum.
Yang Hee-young, who hesitated to look at the 11th hole (par 4), recorded consecutive birdies on the 13th hole (par 5) and 14th hole (par 4). She then reduced her one more stroke on the 18th hole (par 5) and finished the third round in a tie for third place.
After the game, Yang Hee-young said, “The feel of the shot is good.” He didn’t even have to play the short game because of his good shot feel.”
“It is very difficult to compete in major competitions, unlike other competitions. That makes me more focused. I enjoy it even more,” he added.
Other Korean players also worked hard to make it to the top 10. Kim A-rim (28? Hanwha Q Cells), who took the lead the day before, hit an even par 72 with 4 birdies, 2 bogeys and 1 double bogey.
Kim A-lim, who recorded an interim total of 8 under par 208 strokes, was tied for 6th place with Kim Hyo-joo (28), Choi Hye-jin (24? Lotte), and Nellie Koda (USA).
After committing a double bogey in hole 3 (par 3), A-lim Kim lost another stroke in hole 5 (par 4). However, she later made up for her earlier mistakes, including four birdies, and maintained her lead.
Ji Eun-hee (37? Hanwha Q CELLS), the eldest sister of Korean players, tied for 13th with an interim total of 5 under par and 211 strokes.
Ko Jin-young (28, Solaire), the only Korean player to win the championship this season, and Jeon In-ji (29, KB Financial Group), who took on the career grand slam challenge, tied for 18th place with an interim total of 3 under par and 213 strokes.
In particular, Jeon In-ji recorded the first hole-in-one on the LPGA stage on the 17th hole (par 3) and accumulated a donation of 1 million dollars in prize money. In this tournament, an event called ‘Chevron Challenge’ is being held on the 17th hole, and if you make a birdie on this hole, you will donate 10,000 dollars and if you make a hole-in-one, you will donate 1 million dollars.
Jeon In-ji said, “I was greedy for a hole-in-one ahead of the 17th hole. She looked at the distance, she prepared and hit the shot, and it landed exactly where she wanted and made a hole-in-one,” she said.
2023-04-23 05:43:00
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