Mixed day for duo
Green and Grace experience high and low for joint top spot
After two days of shooting the best round of the day, Grace Kim blew up with a 5-over 76 but managed to share the lead at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Saturday.
Kim had a four-stroke lead going into the third round was caught at 7-under 206 by defending champion and fellow Australian Hannah Green, who carded a 1-under 70.
“When Gracie (Kim) was 12-under after two rounds, I didn’t think anyone would really get to that number,” Green said.
“Even now, I think we’re all at 7-under, and I’m kind of not surprised.
“I felt like earlier in the week the greens were firmer and usually we had a little bit softer conditions,” Green continued. “I like that’s if you’re 1-under, you’re having a good day.”
South Korean rookie Im Jin-hee shot the best round on Saturday with an 8-under 63 – the new tournament course record at Wilshire Country Club. She is tied for third at 6-under with Germany’s Esther Henseleit (71 on Saturday) and Sweden’s Maja Stark (73).
Jin-hee had matching rounds of 1-over 72 before Saturday’s 63, when she had six birdies on the back nine and nine total along with a bogey at No. 6. She hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation.
“So, first two days I start really bad,” Jin-hee said.
“First day, bogey, double bogey start. Yesterday, double start. But today I start good and played good.
“I thought the (setup on the back nine) was a little easier than before, so I had a lot of chance to play with my short irons; it works.”
Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (64) is alone in sixth at 5-under after a bogey at the par-3 18th hole. Kim carded rounds of 64 (tying the then-scoring record) on Thursday and 66 on Friday, but her effort Saturday included no birdies or better. She made bogeys at Nos. 2, 10 and 16, and a double bogey at the par-3 No. 4.
“The wind did pick up,” Kim said of afternoon conditions. “It was a bit gusty out there, so mentally I knew it was going to be tough, and I’d seen some high scores already. I just tried to stay in the present. Again, like I backed away a few times because the wind died or gusted up, so the club selection was crucial.”