CPKC Women’s Open: Chasing first LPGA Tour win, Khang opens three-shot lead

Aug 27, 2023 at 2:14 PM
CPKC Women’s Open: Chasing first LPGA Tour win, Khang opens three-shot lead

Megan Khang birdied 4 of the final 5 holes for a 4-under 68 and a three-stroke lead Saturday within the CPKC Women’s Open.

Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, Khang rebounded from bogeys on Nos. 10 and 12 with birdies on Nos. 14-16 and 18 — holing a 15-footer on the final.

“At the end of the day, I’m just going to try my best to keep that same mindset, stay patient,” Khang mentioned. “These fairways are tight and the greens are firm, and I really just kind of trust myself out there.” The 25-year-old American had an 11-under 205 complete at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, a difficult water-side structure with towering timber — and loads of mosquitoes. While winless on the tour, she has 33 top-10 finishes, profession earnings of over $5 million, and is ranked twenty seventh on the planet.

“Honestly, it’s been a lot of learning over the past few years to stay patient, not get ahead of myself,” Khang mentioned.

Three strokes forward on the activate Saturday, Khang discovered herself two photographs behind Sei Young Kim, a couple of holes later earlier than rallying with the birdie spree.

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“I bogeyed 12, and then just like that, I look at the leaderboard and I hear a roar,” Khang mentioned. “Not knowing who it is, I take a peek at the leaderboard and I see Sei Young’s name up at the top and I’m like, `Oh, here we go.’” Kim was second after a 67. The 30-year-old South Korean participant had a hole-in-one on the A hundred and seventy fifth-yard eighth with a 5-iron and made an 18-foot eagle putt on the 265-yard, par-4 14th.

“A lot of people shouted loudly, so it sounded like it got in,” Kim mentioned in regards to the ace. “I was like, ‘Oh, I have goosebumps.’” She received the final of her 12 tour titles in 2020.

Fellow South Korean participant Jin Young Ko was third at 6 underneath after a 71. Ko received in 2019 at Magna outdoors Toronto. She has 15 LPGA Tour victories.

“Today was a long day,” Ko mentioned. “The last three holes, I didn’t have any energy.” Georgia Hall of England and first-round chief Yuka Saso of Japan had been 5 underneath. Hall had a 70, and Saso shot 72.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England was 4 underneath after a 67.

Canadian star Brooke Henderson was tied for thirty fourth at 2 over after her second 75 of the week. The 2018 winner at Wascana in Saskatchewan, she is carrying glasses in competitors for the primary time.

“It was disappointing that I let some shots slip away,” Henderson mentioned. “But looking at the leaderboard on 16, I was kind of relieved because everyone else seemed to be having some trouble, too, so that made me feel a little bit better about myself.”