Hye-Jin Choi is closing in on her first LPGA Tour victory after recording a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Choi collected six birdies against one bogey on Saturday to reside at 19-under 197 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course.
“I’ve been waiting for this a really long and I’m going to try my best (on Sunday),” the 26-year-old South Korean said. “I think I will feel like I’m making the dream and I just imagine on it. I’m just looking for a victory (on Sunday).”
Choi placed second at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open as a 17-year-old amateur.
China’s Liu Yan carded seven birdies during her bogey-free round of 65 on Saturday to sit in second place at 15-under.
“Well, I just feel very good in my game, from the driver to the putting. Everything feels great,” Yan said. “I think today at the course I just really relax. Golf cannot be perfect, so I made some mistakes. … So I just stay patient, yeah.”
Yan is one stroke ahead of Australian Hannah Green (67), who collected eight birdies to overcome a double-bogey on No. 3 and a bogey on No. 18.
Green knows she needs her putting game to be on point if she wishes to catch up to Choi.
“I think she’s going for her first LPGA Tour win so she might be feeling a little bit more nervous than I am,” Green said. “She looked calm and collected, so who knows. Yeah, hopefully make some more birdies and give it my best shot.”
A Lim Kim of South Korea ascended 20 places into a tie for fourth place at 13-under after she shot a 64 on Saturday. She highlighted her round by sinking a 25-foot putt for an eagle on the par-5 18th hole.
“Yeah, today I make a lot of putts and then read is better than first round, but I have one more day so keep working on it,” said Kim, who had four birdies on her first five holes.
Kim is tied with World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, who collected birdies on her final three holes to finish with a 65 on Saturday.
Japan’s Ayaka Furue (67) is also tied for fourth at 13-under.
Defending champion Ruoning Yin of China shot 69 to sit at 12-under, tied with New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (68) and Linn Grant of Sweden (68).
