[서울=뉴스핌] Reporter Kim Yong-seok = ‘World’s 2nd place’ Jin-young Ko took the lead in Moving Day and continues the competition with Player of the Year for the prize money.
Jinyoung Ko (26, Solaire) competed in the final match of the LPGA Tour season at Tiburon Golf Club (par 72 ‧ 6556 yards) in Naples, Fla. R) In the third round, he made a 6-under-par 66 by combining 7 birdies and 1 bogey.
| Jinyoung Ko, who took the lead in Moving Day. [사진= 뉴스핌 DB] |
Jin-young Ko, with a 14-under par 202, took the lead with Nelly Corda (USA), Nasa Hataoka (Japan), and Celine Butier (France).
Jinyoung Ko and Nelly Corda had a fierce battle until the very last minute. Both players recorded 4 wins this season, and in the Player of the Year category, Nelly Corda scored 191 points and Jin-young Ko scored 181 points. In the prize money category, Nelly Corda is also ahead with $2,237,157 (about 2.36 billion won), ahead of Jinyoung Ko’s $2,02,161 (about 2.36 billion won).
However, depending on the winner of the competition, the main character may change. The winner of the tournament will receive 30 points for the Player of the Year award and a cash prize of $1.5 million. Koda ranked first in the world ranking, and Jin-Young Ko ranked second, 0.95 points behind. Also, if Jin-Young Ko wins the prize money this year, it will be the first time since Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) to win the prize money three times in a row. Koh Jin-young has 12 LPGA career victories, and Koda has 8 wins.
Jinyoung Ko, who is also a defending champion, joined the lead group by catching 7 consecutive birdies from the 2nd hole to the 8th hole.
Jinyoung Ko said through the LPGA, “I made a 7-hole birdie in the first half. I putts well and shot well, so I was able to reduce the number of strokes. It’s disappointing in the second half, but I think I had a round with no regrets because I did so well in the first half.” I was able to play confidently because I had the feeling that if I shot it, it would stick and if I put it, it would go in.”
Regarding the final round, he said, “There are various titles at stake, but I want to play my game and rest in Korea without being attached to those titles. A lot of people are worried about the condition of my wrist right now, but it is getting better than I thought, and it will get better if I rest while receiving treatment. I think it will,” he said.
‘Hot Six’ Lee Jeong-eun 6th tied for 10th (11 under par), Ji Eun-hee tied for 14th (9-under par), Kim Se-young and Kim A-rim, Jeon In-ji tied for 18th (8 under par), and Yu So-yeon tied for 26th (7 under par) did.
[동영상= LPGA]
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