Choi Ye-rim celebrates a birdie on the 13th hole with her caddie. [Photo=KLPGA]
Choi Ye-rim celebrates a birdie on the 13th hole with her caddie. [Photo=KLPGA]

Choi Ye-rim has taken a three-stroke lead at the KLPGA Tour OK Savings Bank Utman Open, which carries a purse of 1 billion won ($736,000).

Choi fired a tournament-best 7-under-par 65 on Saturday — eight birdies against one bogey — at Adonis Country Club (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, to move to 9-under 135 for the tournament and open a three-shot gap over Han Ji-won in second place.

Choi got off to a strong start by draining a 9.5-meter birdie putt on the par-4 first hole, then added another birdie from 1.4 meters on the par-5 fifth. Back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth holes gave her four under for the front nine. She kept the momentum going on the back nine, birdieing three consecutive holes from the 11th through the 13th, then stuck her third shot to within 70 centimeters of the pin from 85 meters on the par-5 15th for another birdie. Her only blemish came on the par-3 17th, where a three-putt left her with the day's sole bogey.

Choi turned professional in 2017 and has two wins on the second-tier Dream Tour, but she has yet to claim a title on the main KLPGA Tour despite finishing runner-up nine times.

She leads all winless players in career earnings on the tour. This year, she added a ninth runner-up finish in June, losing to Kim Min-sol in a playoff at the McCall-Mona Yongpyong Open.

"I really want to win, but my mindset is always the same — I plan to play with a relaxed mind," Choi said after her round. "I'm going to keep telling myself, 'I'm already a player who has won,' and try to stay calm and play freely."

Han Ji-won, who also has no KLPGA Tour title to her name, carded a 3-under 69 — six birdies, three bogeys — to sit alone in second at 6-under 138. Her best result this season was a tie for fifth at the E1 Charity Open in May.

"I want to win, but I know that wanting it too badly doesn't make it happen," Han said. "I'll try to play as calmly and comfortably as I did in the first two rounds."

Shin Da-in, who successfully defended her title at last week's KG Ladies Open, posted a 1-under 71 — three birdies, two bogeys — to move to 5-under 139 and take sole third place, four shots off the lead. With two rounds remaining, the gap is well within striking distance.

"I'm four back and the course isn't particularly easy, so I think it's very much doable," said Shin, who is chasing back-to-back wins. "I'll give it everything tomorrow and go for the win."

Kim Min-sol, bidding for her fourth win of the season, shot 2-under for the second straight day to join Lee Ye-won in a tie for fourth at 4-under 140. Kim Jae-hee, Jeong So-i, Hong Hyun-ji, Park Bo-gyeom and Heo Yun-seo are all tied for sixth at 3-under 141.


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