Australian expatriate Lee Min-ji Lee and South African Ashley Buhai are tied for the lead after the third day of the BMW Ladies Championship 2023 on the United States Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour.
Lee shot a 1-under 71 with three birdies and two bogeys in the third round of the tournament at the par-72 Seowon Hills Course at Seowon Valley CC in Paju, South Korea.
Her 12-under-par 204 total puts her atop the leaderboard alongside Buhai, who shaved three strokes off her total on the day.
Lee, currently ranked No. 7 in the world, is coming off her first win of the season and ninth career victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship last month.
Coming into the tournament with a good feeling, she took the lead after the second round and held it for two consecutive days to improve her chances of earning her second win of the season and 10th of her career.
Buhui, a veteran who made her LPGA Tour debut in 2008, recorded her first victory at the AIG Women’s Open last August, defeating Jeon Ji-in (29, KB Financial Group) in a four-player playoff, and picked up her second win of the season in June when she overcame a tough challenge from Kim Hyo-joo (28, Lotte) at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.굿모닝토토 도메인
She will be looking for her third win in four months.
Behind them, Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and Allison Lee (USA) are tied for third at 11-under 205.
Among the South Koreans, 1988-born veteran Shin Ji-Ae (35-Suburban) moved up to a tie for seventh place after a five-under par day to bring her total to 9-under par 207.
The 11-time LPGA Tour winner is in position to pull off an upset with her final day results.
Other than Shin, all Korean players finished outside the top 10.
Lee Jung-six (27-Daebang E&C) and amateur Seo Jin Park (15) were tied for 11th (7-under 209), while Shin Ji-eun (31-Hanwha Q CELLS) was tied for 17th (6-under 210).
Kim Hyo-ju (28-LOTTE) and Jeon In-ji (29-KB Financial Group) enter the final day in a tie for 23rd place (5-under par 211).
World No. 3 Jin Young Ko (28-Solare) moved up from a tie for 44th the day before to a tie for 37th (3-under par 213).
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