Hot Kim decimates British Open field

St Andrews – South Korea’s Kim In-Kyung (left) had a dream day on the greens and soared into a six-shot lead with a round to play in the Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns on Saturday.

The 29-year-old famously missed a one-foot putt on the final green to lose the chance of a first major win at the 2012 ANA Inspiration, but she holed from all over the place in a faultless third round of 66.

Kim’s 17-under-par total of 199 was a championship 54-hole record – one better than Ariya Jutanugarn at Woburn 12 months ago.

Jutanugarn, who went on to win last year, missed the halfway cut, but her older sister Moriya maintained family pride with a superb 67 for joint second place on 11 under par.

England’s Georgia Hall, playing with Kim, also finished on 11 under after a 70.

She had narrowed the gap on her playing partner with three birdies in a row from the 13th – but a bogey at the 16th and a four putt double-bogey six at the 17th means she has a massive gap to make up over the final 18 holes.

In the mixture of rain and sun, she birdied the second and then four in a row from the fifth. More birdies came at the 11th and 12th.

Park In-bee, the 2015 champion at Turnberry, made a surge through the field by equalling the course record 64. On 10 under, she is still a threat. –