SHANGHAI: Kim Sei-young of South Korea and Carlotta Ciganda of Spain will head into Sunday’s final round of the LPGA Shanghai tournament with a one-shot lead over Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and a trio of American golfers.
Ariya, the world No.2, is still seeking her first LPGA victory in Asia to go with 10 others in the US, Canada, England and Scotland. She had three birdies and four bogeys in Saturday’s third round for a one-under par 71, leaving her at 10 under for the tournament.
Joining Ariya at 10 under are Angel Yin, who had a 4-under 68 on Saturday, Danielle Kang (71) and Brittany Altomare (69).
But the Chinese crowds will be cheering on Sunday for 96th-ranked Yu Liu, who has been energised by the home support and sits at 9 under par.
Ciganda fired herself into the joint lead following a blemish-free 67 at an overcast Qizhong Garden Golf Club.
Kim began her third round in sparkling form, draining three birdies to extend her lead. But she faltered on holes seven and eight, carding two bogeys, and was slowly reined in by a pack headed by the 28-year-old Ciganda.
Altomare, who is gunning for her first LPGA win, briefly surged to the head of the leaderboard, before falling back with a double bogey at the par-four 15th.
Kim hit trouble on the 17th, dropping a shot as she struck out into the water, ramming her club into her bag in anger and eventually carding a one-under-par 71.
Ariya, the runaway money leader on the LPGA tour this year with $2.3 million, is looking to become its only four-time winner.
She could also move back into top spot ahead of Park Sung-hyun when the updated world rankings are announced on Monday. The Korean is currently in 25th place in Shanghai at 3 under par.
Co-sanctioned by the US LPGA and the China LPGA, the new Shanghai event is just the second official LPGA tournament to be staged in China.
The event, with a $2.1-million purse, joins the Blue Bay LPGA, which tees off next month on Hainan island
