CARLSBAD, Calif.; – Inbee Park opened a five-stroke lead Saturday in a bid to finally win the Kia Classic.
Second in the event in 2010, 2016 and 2019, Hall of Famer shot 3-under 69 to reach 12-under 204 at Aviara Golf Club – the sightseeing course set up about 300 yards shorter for the third round .
“It was a big surprise,” said Park. “I didn’t know the LPGA was going to move up four strings in one day. I have never seen a setup like this. So they tried something new. I mean, he spent a lot of time on the golf course today waiting to go for the greens. But it was fun at the same time. ”
Park is making its first LPGA Tour of the season. The 32-year-old South Korean star, who is fourth in the world, has made 20 hit victories – seven of them major.
“It’s hard to put on those greens, but I’ve handled myself well on the greens,” Park said. “Of course, they made the course very accessible today and I couldn’t take advantage of those holes, but I played the rest of the holes well. So I’m happy with that. ”
Full-range scores from the Kia Classic
Play partner Mel Reid went out on a birdie effort from green on 18 in 71 which left her tied for second place with Mi Jung Hur (67) and Minjee Lee (68).
“She’s got five bullets, so I have to do something special to make it happen tomorrow,” Reid said. “I think tomorrow the game plan is aggressive and there is nothing to lose, and I’m going to try to get as close as I can to Inbee. But she’s an incredible golfer and she’s going to be hard to beat. She will make no mistake. ”
Jin Young Ko, Lexi Thompson and Madelene Sagstrom were ranked 6th in the final event before the main ANA Inspiration next week in Rancho Mirage. Ko, the ANA winner in April 2019, shot at 68.
“I had a lot of opportunity for a birdie, but I missed a couple or two,” Ko said. “But I’m still playing well today. Great fun out there. I’m looking forward to it tomorrow. ”
Sagstrom was going all day, getting over an opening double bogey for 64. The Swede followed the double bogey with birdies on seven of the next eight holes. She had four birdies and a bogey behind nine.
“The course was well run today,” said Sagstrom. “I was able to reach two par 4s and I hit some really good tee shots on those two, I took advantage of that. I just hit some really good iron beats, which were pretty easy, and then I did a few putts. “
Lexi Thompson hopes extra use will pay off at Kia Classic
Thompson had 66 softballs.
“Overall, just a great day,” Thompson said. “We had amazing scoring conditions, perfect weather for us. You just tried to take advantage of that. They moved some of the strings up so I knew I had to do a lot of birdies to make a move of any kind today. “
Thompson and Amy Olson – 5 under after 67 – were in the best position to extend the winning streak of the opening season of the United States. Americans have won the first three events for the first time since 2007, with sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda taking the first two and Austin Ernst taking the last.
Sophia Popov, winner of the British Women’s Open, suffered a stroke behind the Park into the round, five bogs in 76 in the final group. She was 4 under.
Marina Alex closed bogey-eagle-eagle-bogey-eagle, coming out of the way on the 18th par-4 for 71. She was 3 under.