On another sweltering afternoon at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, So Yeon Ryu posted a 5-under 67 to take a three-shot lead into Sunday’s finale of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Ryu entered the day tied with compatriot Sung Hyun Park and Canadian Brooke Henderson but pulled away on the closing holes with birdies on Nos. 14, 15, and 18 to reach 11-under 205.
The winner of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open and 2017 ANA Inspiration, Ryu realizes a win tomorrow would get her one step closer to a career grand slam.
“Winning this tournament is going to be huge because I never really dreamed about becoming a Grand Slammer,” said Ryu.
“But after I won the ANA Inspiration, I started to dream about becoming a Grand Slammer. For that, I need to definitely win this tournament, and right now, I’m in pretty good position to achieve another dream so I really want to make it.”
Henderson made four early birdies to take the lead at 10 under, but closed with two bogeys (Nos. 14 and 16) en route to a 70. She’s three back at 8 under.
Despite the late struggles, Henderson is still confident about her chances tomorrow.
“I feel like I can really depend on my tee shots and my long game,” said Henderson.
“I’ve been hitting it close and giving myself good looks for birdie. Today, I kind of struggled a little bit with my putter, which is disappointing.
“But I think just kind of get better in my head and just go out tomorrow and make a lot of good shots and see if I can make some birdies. And hopefully, they roll in.”
South Korea’s Sung Hyun Park was 7 under after a 71, one clear of American Angel Yin (68) who’s at 6 under.
THE TOP 10
1. So Yeon Ryu -11
2. Brooke Henderson -8
3. Sung Hyun Par -7
4. Angel Yin -6
5. Bronte Law -5
6. In-Kyung Kim -4
6. Hyo Joo Kim -4
6. Daniela Holmqvist -4
6. Carlota Ciganda -4
10. 13 Players Tied -3
NOTABLES
10. Lydia Ko -3
10. Shanshan Feng -3
10. Moriya Jutanugarn -3
26. Nelly Korda -1
31. Cristie Kerr E
31. Stacy Lewis E
34. Danielle Kang +1
34. Michelle Wie +1
34. Lexi Thompson +1
34. Minjee Lee +1
41. Ariya Jutanugarn +2
51. Pernilla Lindberg +3
57. Karrie Webb +4
57. Brittany Lincicome +4
63. Paul Creamer +6
WORLD TOP 10
1. Inbee Park (+5, MC)
2. Ariya Jutanugarn (+2, T41)
3. Lexi Thompson (+1, T34)
4. Shanshan Feng (-3, T10)
5. So Yeon Ryu (-10, 1)
6. Sung Hyun Park (-7, 3)
7. Hi Jim Choi (Not Playing)
8. I.K. Kim (-4, T6)
9. Minjee Lee (+1, T34)
10. Moriya Jutanugarn (-3, T10)
VIDEO: ROUND-3 HIGHLIGHTS
QUOTABLE
“I think for long game, I can give myself an A, and then about the putting, also I can give myself an A. On Thursday it definitely was a matter of putting, and then yesterday it was like — couldn’t really make enough birdie opportunities. And then today I think everything was combined really well. So hopefully tomorrow is going to be even A+.”
– So Yeon Ryu
