A Lim Kim's Hole-in-One Secures Lead at Lotte Championship Ahead of Final Round
South Korea’s A Lim Kim delivered a spectacular performance on Friday at the Lotte Championship in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, showcasing her skill and a bit of luck that placed her in the lead heading into the final round. The highlight of Kim's round at the Hoakalei Country Club came at the par-3 ninth hole, where she made an impressive hole-in-one with a 9-iron. The ball landed on the green and took a single bounce before rolling straight into the cup, a moment she humbly attributed to luck. "Calculate number and then chose line and then hit it. I think (it was) 99 percent lucky," Kim said after her round.
Kim completed the day with a 5-under-par 67, pushing her overall score to 14-under 202. This gave her a slender one-shot lead over Russia's Nataliya Guseva, who shot a solid 68 to stay in contention at 13 under. Guseva, a 21-year-old rookie and former University of Miami standout, is looking to make history by becoming the first Russian to win on the LPGA Tour. Despite the pressure, Guseva focused on enjoying the game. "It's been my first time playing in the final group and it's different feeling, but the most important thing is I had fun out there," she said. She remains optimistic as she aims to maintain her momentum heading into the final round.
Meanwhile, American Ryann O'Toole ended her third round at 11 under after carding a 69, putting her firmly within striking distance. O'Toole, who found success with four birdies and one bogey, admitted that following up her 6-under round on Thursday was a challenge. "Trying to back up 6 under is not always easy, so sometimes you just get frustrated ... so I really had to make myself just take it as it came and be patient," she shared.
A tightly packed leaderboard includes Auston Kim (69), South Korea's Jin Young Ko (67), and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida (71), all tied for fourth at 10 under. Not far behind, South Korea's Jeongeun Lee5 and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka share seventh place at 9 under after matching 67 and 69 rounds, respectively. Defending champion Grace Kim of Australia posted a 68, tying at 8 under with South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai, who shot 67.
A Lim Kim, whose sole LPGA victory came at the 2020 US Women’s Open, remains focused as she looks to secure another title. Despite her current standing at 65th in the LPGA tour rankings, a strong finish at the Lotte Championship could propel her into the top 60, ensuring her spot at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida. On her approach to the final round, Kim stated, "Every tournament I think same: Focus on my line and then hit it. That's it. Any result, I don't care."
The final round promises an intense battle as Kim, Guseva, and O'Toole look to navigate the challenges of Hoakalei and vie for victory. Each golfer brings unique strengths and motivations to the table, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.
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