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NAPLES, Fla. (AP) – Sei Young Kim is poised to defend her CME Group Tour Championship title, take player of the year honors, win the money title and possibly even move up to world No. 1.
Kim took a one-shot lead over top-ranked Jin Young Ko in the final round of the LPGA Tour season, shooting a 5-under-67 on Saturday in warmer conditions at Tiburon Golf Club to reach 13-under-203. Ko had a 69.
“Very good chances of chasing it all,” Kim said. “If I play well tomorrow, there are many possibilities.”
For Kim to take the number one spot in the world from Ko, he would have to win on Sunday and have Ko finish only 10th place or worse. Ko has held the top spot for 73 weeks in a row.
Georgia Hall was third at 10 under par after 68.
Lexi Thompson (71), Brooke Henderson (66), Charley Hull (66), Minjee Lee (66) and Austin Ernst (69) were 9 under.
Kim is tied for the lead in the tour victory with Danielle Kang with two, winning the KPMG PGA Women’s Championship and the Pelican Women’s Championship in back-to-back starts in October and November. The South Korean star played a 12-hole stretch from second to 13 at 6 under, then dropped a hit at par 4 18.
“My vibe was really good because the weather was warmer, and then I play in pairs with Jin Young and Lexi (Thompson). Those are my favorite player, so yeah, it was fun. We didn’t talk much, but it was very comfortable and relaxed. . out there. “
Ko made three birdies in a round without ghosts.
“I said yesterday that my goal is like a ghost-free round on the weekend so I made it today,” Ko said. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Kim and Ko are friends for a long time.
“It’s always fun to play with her,” Ko said. “We played together last year and we played – we practiced together at the US Open last week. So we know each other. But this is a competition, so we’re close but we have to part. in the countryside”.
After a tie for second place last week in Houston at the US Women’s Open, Ko has a chance to win the title for money in just four events. The winner’s prize of $ 1.1 million, compared to $ 1.5 million last year, is the richest in women’s golf. Ko is ranked 13th with $ 567,925. Inbee Park is the leader with $ 1,365,138 and Kim second with $ 1,207,438.
The race to CME Globe leader Park was tied for 28th at 3 under par after her third consecutive spot of 71. Kang, second, was tied for 42nd even after 70.
