Jiyai Shin Leads Kia Classic
Rolex Rankings No. 2 Jiyai Shin leads by a shot entering the final round of the Kia Classic.
Shin bogeyed the 18th hole to give her a one-shot lead at 15-under-par 204 over Sandra Gal. Shin carded five birdies and two bogeys for a three-under-par 70 on Saturday. An eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Shin is seeking her first victory of the season at the Kia Classic and is quickly approaching the $4 million mark in career earnings. This is Shin’s fourth LPGA event of the season and her best finish so far in 2011 is a tie for 11th at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore.
Sandra Gal is chasing the leader Shin by one stroke, after shooting a 3-under 70 in the third round. Gal finished up her second round on Saturday morning when play resumed at 7:30 a.m. and went 3-under on the back nine to put her within a stroke of Shin entering the third round. Gal kept herself within a stroke of Shin by tallying four birdies and one bogey in Saturday’s third round. Gal’s career best finish is a tie for fifth at the LPGA Corning Classic in 2009.
Some of the LPGA’s top players are also in pursuit of Shin entering Sunday’s final round. Na Yeon Choi, who is currently No. 4 in the Rolex Rankings, turned into the low round of the day Saturday with an 8-under 65 to vault her into third place at 9-under-par 210 and six strokes out of the lead. I.K. Kim, who is No. 7 in the Rolex Rankings, sits right behind Choi at 8-under-par 211.
There are 18 players who are competing for 10 spots in next week’s Kraft Nabisco Championship. The top 10 finishers in the Kia Classic who are not otherwise qualified for the LPGA’s first major of the year will earn entry into the tournament. The 18 players who are competing for those open spots are: Mindy Kim, Paige Mackenzie, Moira Dunn, Pornanong Phatium, Christel Boeljon, Marcy Hart, Reilly Rankin, Allison Fouch, Becky Morgan, Kris Tamulis, Danah Bordner, Pernilla Lindberg, Aree Song, Stephanie Sherlock, Sarah Lee, Lorie Kane, and Stephanie Louden.
Na Yeon Choi recorded an eagle 2 on No. 6, a par four. She used a 48-degree wedge to hole out from 106 yards, landing the ball just a little past the pin and spinning it back into the hole
Candie Kung eagled the par four 14th hole by holing her second shot from 136 yards with an eight iron.
First round leader Amanda Blumenherst shot an even-par 73 to remain at 6-under for the tournament and in a tie for sixth place with Mindy Kim.
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng shot a 1-under 72 on Saturday and is tied for 14th overall at 3-under-par 216.
