KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Maintaining the lead she has held since the opening round and looking for her first win on the LPGA Tour, Hye-Jin Choi will take a four-stroke advantage into the final round of the Maybank Championship after shooting a 5-under 67 Saturday.
The 26-year-old Choi has 28 career top-10 finishes and placed second at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open as a 17-year-old amateur.
Choi, who played on the South Korea team in last week’s International Crown, had a 54-hole total of 19-under 197 on the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country club course. She started the day with a five-stroke lead.
China’s Liu Yan (65) was in second place and a member of the at the International Crown last weekend, was in third after a 67, four strokes behind Choi.
A Lim Kim was the biggest mover with a 64 that left her in a tie for fourth place, six strokes off the lead. Kim’s round included an and six birdies.
“It was a great shot, but improbable,” Kim said of her 25-foot eagle putt on 18. She started her round with four birdies in five holes.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, a runner-up in Malaysia the last two years, shot 65 and was also in a fourth-place tie. She birdied Saturday.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s good,” said Thitikul. She credited her many fans in the gallery for their support, saying again the venue was like a “mini-Thailand” for her.
Defending champion shot 69 and was in seventh place, seven strokes behind Choi and tied with New Zealander Lydia Ko (68).
Next week, the LPGA ends its five-week Asian swing with the Japan Classic at Shiga.
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AP golf:
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