Choi Hye-jin (27, Lotte) has created another opportunity to pursue her first LPGA Tour victory.
Choi climbed to solo third place in the third round of the Mizuho Americas Open (total prize money $3.25 million) held at Mountain Ridge Country Club (par 72) in West Caldwell, New Jersey, on Saturday (Korea time). Carding seven birdies and one bogey for a 6-under 66, she reached a three-round total of 7-under 209, trailing sole leader Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand (10-under) by three strokes.
Choi, who started the tournament tied for fourth, dropped three strokes in the second round to fall into a tie for 13th, but she leaped 10 spots on the leaderboard Saturday to join the title contention.
Since joining the LPGA Tour in 2022, Choi has posted consistent results but has yet to record her maiden victory, currently leading all winless players in career prize money. This season, she has played in eight events, making seven cuts and recording two top-10 finishes. After picking up four birdies on the front nine, she added consecutive birdies on the 12th (par 4) and 13th (par 5) holes, then made her first bogey on the 15th (par 4) before bouncing back with a birdie on the 17th (par 5).
Thitikul, the defending champion and world No. 2, shaved two strokes to keep the lead, while Celine Boutier of France (8-under) sat in second, two shots back. Shin Ji-eun, who cut five strokes, was tied for seventh at 5-under, followed by Yu Hae-ran in a tie for 12th at 2-under. Yoon Ina, who began the tournament tied for 69th, trimmed two strokes and one stroke in the second and third rounds respectively to move into a tie for 16th (1-under), while Hwang Yu-min, the current leader in Rookie of the Year points, will enter the final round tied for 21st (even par).
