Kim Ju-hyung walks to the 18th green with caddie David Brucker. [AFP]
Kim Ju-hyung walks to the 18th green with caddie David Brucker. [AFP]

Kim Ju-hyung moved into sole third place at the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship on Saturday, just one stroke off the lead and firmly in contention heading into the final round.

Playing at Sedgefield Country Club (par 70) in Greensboro, North Carolina, Kim carded a bogey-free 7-under-par 63 — his best round of the week — to reach 15 under par through 54 holes, standing alone in third place.

After opening rounds of 65 and 67, Kim turned Moving Day into his sharpest performance of the tournament. He made birdie at the par-4 13th by sticking a 120-yard approach to within 1.2 meters of the pin, then did the same at the par-4 17th, where his second shot from 145 yards finished a meter from the hole. The run briefly put him atop the clubhouse leaderboard.

Kim ranked tied for third in the field in fairway accuracy at 78.57 percent and tied for eighth in greens in regulation at 81.80 percent. His precision-driven round of seven birdies sets up a final-round charge against co-leaders Beau Hossler and Michael Brennan, both of the United States, who share the top spot at 16 under.

A victory Sunday would give Kim his second win of the season and the fifth of his PGA Tour career, following his triumph at the Genesis Scottish Open in July. It would also mark a title reclaimed four years in the making — Kim won his first Tour title at this same event in 2022 as a non-member.

"My ball-striking and putting rhythm have been precise and steady all three days," Kim said after his round. "I'm especially pleased that I kept my rhythm in the tough moments and came through without a bogey."

He added that Sedgefield holds a special place for him. "This course always gives me comfort and confidence because it's where I won my first PGA Tour title," he said. "In the final round, I won't worry about other players or the scoreboard — I'll focus entirely on my game plan. When the opportunity comes, I'll be aggressive and go after the win."

Nico Echavarria of Colombia fired the day's best round, a 62 (8 under), to climb into a tie for eighth at 11 under par through 54 holes. He played bogey-free, recording one eagle and six birdies.

Im Sung-jae carded five birdies against two bogeys for a 3-under 67, moving 17 spots up the leaderboard to a tie for 21st at 8 under par. Korean American Michael Kim shot 1 under to sit tied for 40th at 6 under.


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