Lee Ye-won currently leads the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour in both Player of the Year points and scoring average. Until two weeks ago, she also topped the prize money rankings, but she relinquished that position while away competing in Japan.
Lee is again absent from the domestic circuit this week, having entered the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour's Resort Trust Ladies. It marks her second consecutive JLPGA appearance, following last week's Bridgestone Ladies Open. Despite forgoing the domestic title race for the Japanese stage, her first outing produced a modest result, a tie for 31st place.
Lee has put herself firmly in contention at her second Japanese event, however. In the third round held Sunday at Grandee Nasu Shirakawa Golf Club (par 72) in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, she carded six birdies and two bogeys for a 4-under 68. Her three-day total of 6-under 210 left her two strokes behind leader Sora Kamiya of Japan. Her back-nine finish was particularly strong, with three strokes shaved over the final four holes. She rolled in consecutive birdies at the 15th and 16th (both par 4s) before adding another at the par-5 18th.
Lee will tee off in the final group on the closing day alongside Sora Kamiya and Yumeno Masada, both of Japan, in pursuit of the title.
