Twenty-two of the LPGA Tour's 28 rookies this season competed in the Blue Bay LPGA, the final event of the Asian Swing. South Korean rookies Hwang Yu-min and Lee Dong-eun both participated. After seven players missed the cut following the second round, 15 rookies advanced to the third round, including both Korean players. While many rookies made the cut, the standout performer is Hwang Yu-min, who currently leads the rookie rankings.
The third round moving day at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course (par 72) in Hainan Province, China on November 7 was a frustrating day for Hwang. She recorded two birdies and three bogeys to finish one over for the day, with those three bogeys coming consecutively. This marked the second straight day of damaging triple bogeys. In the second round, she offset six bogeys with six birdies to stay even, but she could not recover on this day. After sharing the lead on day one and holding tied for seventh on day two, she dropped to tied for 11th (5-under 211) and fell out of the top 10.
Despite the drop, tied for 11th is the best position among rookies who made the cut. Behind Hwang are Erika Hara (Japan) at tied for 16th (3-under 213) and Erika Shepherd (United States) at tied for 27th (1-under 215). Lee Dong-eun shot even-par 72 and sits at tied for 34th (1-over 217).
Hwang parred through the third hole before trouble began at the fourth hole (par 3). She wobbled with three consecutive bogeys through the fifth and sixth holes (both par 4). Regrouping, Hwang made birdie at the eighth hole (par 5) to recover one stroke, then added another birdie at the 14th hole (par 5) heading into the final round.
South Korean players intensified their push for first victories of the season. Lee Mi-hyang shot even-par 72 to maintain the solo lead at 12-under 204. Choi Hye-jin surged into a tie for second at 9-under 207 alongside Liu Yu (China) after going 4-under on the day. Kim A-rim moved into a tie for fourth at 8-under 208 with Takeda Rio (Japan) and Aditi Ashok (India) after shooting 1-under, continuing her quest for a first win this season.