The battle for the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour DB Women's Championship title, with a total purse of 1.2 billion won ($880,000), intensified heading into the final round. Ko Ji-won, who had led the field by five strokes through the first two rounds, faltered in the third round, setting up a three-way contest with Yoo Hyun-jo and Kim Min-sol closing in.
Ko shot a 2-over-par 74 with one birdie, one bogey and one double bogey in the third round held Sunday at Rainbow Hills Country Club (par 72) in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province. Her three-round total of 8-under-par 208 kept her alone atop the leaderboard, but her lead over second place narrowed sharply from five strokes to just one.
Ko, whose iron-shot accuracy wavered throughout the day, did not secure her first birdie until the par-5 seventh hole. On the par-4 ninth, her tee shot found the rough, her second shot landed in the greenside bunker, and she missed a 1.46-meter bogey putt to card a double bogey. She also missed a 1.74-meter par putt on the par-4 18th to finish with a bogey.
As Ko wobbled, her pursuers moved quickly. Yoo Hyun-jo, the 2025 season Player of the Year, had been in a tie for fourth through two rounds but surged with five birdies and one bogey for a 4-under-par 68 on the day, reaching 7-under-par 209 and sole second place. She will play alongside Ko in the championship group in the final round.
"Super rookie" Kim Min-sol, who has recorded one victory and one tied-third finish in her last three events, also trimmed four strokes to move to 6-under-par 210, tied for third with Patcharajutar Kongkraphan of Thailand. Sitting two strokes behind the leader, she has put herself within striking distance for a final-round comeback.
On the other hand, Yoo Seo-yeon, who had been alone in second place through two rounds, dropped eight strokes with four bogeys, one double bogey and one triple bogey to finish at 3-over-par 219, plunging to a tie for 23rd and falling out of contention. Lee Da-yeon stood fifth at 4-under-par 212, while Kim Su-ji, Lee Seung-yeon, Park Hye-jun and Han Jin-seon were tied for sixth at 3-under-par 213.
Ko, who claimed back-to-back victories at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters and the S-Oil Championship last year and also won this season's domestic opener at The Siena Open, is aiming for a wire-to-wire victory at this event.
"After the double bogey on the ninth hole, my birdie putts just weren't dropping, which was frustrating," Ko said after her round. "My condition isn't bad, but mistakes came out as I put too much power into my full swings." She added, "Since the gap has narrowed, I think I can focus even more. If I try only to protect my lead, it will become harder, so I will approach it with the same mindset as always."
The final round will be held Monday at the same venue.
