In Gee Chun of Korea shot a third-round 65 and extended her lead at The Evian Championship with her sights set on her second major title. Chun had a strong back nine to take a commanding four-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round and had three birdies and an eagle on her final nine holes to finish at 19-under par. She leads compatriot Sung Hyun Park who is in solo second at 15-under par.
Shanshan Feng of China (69) is solo third and six shots back at 13-under par while So Yeon Ryu (69) is at 12-under par in solo fourth.
Chun’s three-day total of 19-under par 194 breaks the 54-hole scoring record (199 set by Annika Sorenstam at the 2004 LPGA Championship) and already ties the 72-hole record in relation to par previously set by four different players.
“It is a really big honor for me, but I just have to stick with my game plan,” said Chun.
Chun also has another piece of history at stake. She’s trying to become just the second player in LPGA history, joining her idol and fellow South Korean Se Ri Pak, as the only players to win their first two LPGA titles at major championships.
Chun started the day two shots clear of Park and Shanshan Feng and extended her lead to four shots after birdies on holes two, seven and eight but made a mess of the par 5 ninth before making the turn to make things interesting.
Chun double bogeyed after pulling her tee shot deep into the woods and Park picked up her first birdie of the day, cutting the lead to two with a three-shot swing.
“I didn’t make the bogey putt, but it was a really good putt,” said Chun. “I think like just let it go.”
Then Park drained a 25-footer on the 14th hole to cut the lead back to one. But Chun responded with some short game magic, chipping in for eagle from about 50 feet in front of the green on the 15th to extend the lead back to three.
“The pin was on the very top,” said Chun. “It was a pretty tough hole. I think I made a really good second shot, and then third shot was -- because I tried really good to visualize my third shot.”
Chun followed it up with a birdie on the No. 16 to make the lead four shots. Park seemed unfazed after the round about the deficit and said that her last two wins on the KLPGA were come-from-behind victories with the last one at the Hanwa Finance Classic earlier this month coming from four shots behind.
“With how I feel about my shot, I have no problem,” said Park.
Final-round tee times were moved up due to potential weather issues in the area. The first tee time will be 8:04 a.m. local time with the final group teeing off at 10:05 a.m.
GOING FOR HISTORY
In Gee Chun will have some history at stake on Sunday and has already etched her name in the LPGA record books with her efforts through the first three days of the final championship of the year. She edged one of the great of the game for the low score after 54 holes at a major championship and broke Annika Sorenstam’s record previously set in 2004.
Lowest Score After 54-Holes
Score Player Event
194 In Gee Chun 2016 Evian Championship
199 Annika Sorenstam 2004 LPGA Championship
Chun, whose four-day total will most likely find itself in the record books after tomorrow’s final round, has a shot at breaking the 72-hole scoring record and most under par at an LPGA major championship. Jason Day (2015 PGA Championship) and Henrik Stenson (2016 Open Championship) hold the men’s major record of 20-under par.
What’s At Stake on Sunday
Lowest Score After 72-Holes
Score Player Event
267 Betsy King 1992 LPGA Championship
268 Lydia Ko 2015 Evian Championship
Most Under Par, 72-Holes
| Score | Player | Event |
|---|---|---|
| -19 | Dottie Pepper | 1999 Kraft Nabisco Championship |
| -19 | Karen Stupples | 2004 Women's British Open |
| -19 | Cristie Kerr | 2010 LPGA Championship |
| -19 | Yani Tseng | 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship |
| -19 | Inbee Park | 2015 KPMG Women's PGA Championship |
| -18 | Jiyai Shin | 2008 RICOH Women's British Open |
QUOTABLES
“It was really good experience for me, and then the thing I have more confidence, and then I got my passion back in the Olympics.” -In Gee Chun on her several close calls to winning this year and her Olympic experience
“But she’s (In Gee Chun) a pretty amazing golfer at a really young age. She’s definitely one going to be a really tough one to compete with, but I think I definitely have a chance tomorrow.” -So Yeon Ryu on her chances tomorrow
“You know, there’s a lot of young players coming out, but I still have something to improve, and I wanted to focus on that rather than so much about consequences.” -In-Kyung Kim on her mid-summer work on her game leading to her win on the LET last week
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