So Close To The Course Record

Candie Kung breezed through the first 17 holes today before finding trouble on the final hole. Kung had a chance at the Aviara Golf Club course record as she walked to the 18th tee, but yanked her second shot dead left into the stands and finished with a double bogey and a 65. She almost set both the course record and the low round of her career.

“Everything went pretty smooth out there today,” Kung explained. “The greens were definitely smoother than the last couple days with less footprints and I played earlier than a lot of people. So the greens were smooth. I played great. I had a very good 17 and a half holes.”

Kung walked off the green to scoring still happy despite what happened on 18.

“It was just one of those shots that I put a bad swing on it and it happened on the wrong hole. Happened on the wrong shot. I didn’t think I missed it that -- the shot that I missed, if it would have been on the other holes, it would have been okay. It wasn’t really that far left of where I was aiming, but it happens.”

A Special Kind Of Ace

Minjee Lee had never made an ace in her life. But when the first one came on Saturday afternoon at Aviara Golf Club, it wasn’t just a typical hole-in-one. Lee used a 5-wood on the 275-yard par-4 16th hole, which was playing 234 yards, to hole out and make only the second hole-in-one on a par-4 in LPGA history.

“I think I had 210 meters to the pin, and I hit my 5-wood, it was a little right-to-left down wind, so yeah, just hit it a little right and then it was going with the wind and went in the hole,” Lee said. “I didn’t see it go in.

Lee’s ace also marked the first albatross of her career. And it just two months after Ha Na Jang became the first player on the LPGA to make a hole-in-one on a par-4 at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. Jang holed out from 218 yards with a 3-wood on the eighth hole at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island in the third round of the event.

Last Push For The ANA Inspiration

This week’s Kia Classic marks the final opportunity for players to earn spots in the field for the first major of the 2016 season, the ANA Inspiration.

The final criteria for players to get into the field at next week’s ANA Inspiration is the top 20 players who aren’t already qualified and are currently in the top 80 on the 2016 LPGA Official Money List at the conclusion of the Kia Classic.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff has helped her chances of earning a spot and heads into the final round tied for 11th at the Aviara Golf Club. Ewart Shadoff currently sits 76th ($23,274) on the 2016 LPGA Official Money List and a strong finish at this week’s event would likely guarantee her a spot.

Rolex Rankings Scenarios

Below are the Rolex Rankings projections for this week at the Kia Classic. Note: Please confirm with the LPGA staff during the tournament for updates.

Lydia Ko remains No. 1 this week regardless of her result and what happens in the field.

Inbee Park will maintain No. 2 no matter the result of all players.

Final UL International Crown Battle

Team Australia (with a combined Rolex Rankings score of 376) sits in the 8th and final position in the 2016 UL International Crown standings ahead of Team Sweden (with a combine Rolex Ranking score of 383). Both teams have two players remaining in the field on Sunday at the Kia Classic.

For Team Australia, Minjee Lee and Karrie Webb look to improve their team’s position heading into next week when final teams will be set at the conclusion of the ANA Inspiration. Anna Nordqvist and Pernilla Lindberg are battling to make up ground for Team Sweden after both Maria McBride and Caroline Hedwall missed the cut.

Quotable

“I have no option but to go out and play good golf if I want to be in Brazil.”

– Paula Creamer on her goal of making it into the Olympics this summer in Rio.

Of Note

After the third round today, World No. 1 Lydia Ko now has nine consecutive rounds under par.
Candie Kung’s 65 today was her season-low round.
This was the third round of 66-or-lower for Paula Creamer in 2016. She had just three all of last year.
LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Se Ri Pak shot a 1-under 71 in the third round in an effort to earn entry into next week’s ANA Inspiration. Park will likely need to make a significant move on Sunday to earn enough money to move into the top 80 on the LPGA Official Money List.
Sponsor invite and Rolex Rankings No. 28 Sung Hyun Park shot a 4-under 68 and sits in a tie for second at 11-under-par with Brittany Lang and Jenny Shin.
Alison Lee and Ji Young Oh withdrew from the Kia Classic prior to the conclusion of the first round.

2016 Kia Classic Round 3 Notes and Interviews

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