Kim Hyo-joo, who was bidding for a third consecutive LPGA Tour victory, stumbled through a rough third round plagued by errant shots, falling out of contention. A double bogey on the par-4 second hole proved particularly costly. With the final round still to play, her 11-shot deficit to the leader makes a victory virtually impossible. Yun I-na, however, climbed to a tie for ninth at 3-over par through three rounds, raising the prospect of a second straight top-10 finish.
Kim Hyo-joo endured a grueling day Friday, dropping seven shots in the third round of the LPGA Tour Aramco Championship (total purse $4 million) at Shadow Creek Golf Course (par 72) in Las Vegas, Nevada. She managed just two birdies against seven bogeys and one double bogey. After sitting in a tie for second the previous day, she slid to a tie for 17th at 4-over par overall. The leader through three rounds is Lauren Coughlin of the United States at 7-under par. Coughlin has two career LPGA Tour victories.
