Hye-Jin Choi has once again found herself in the chasing position heading into a Championship Sunday on the LPGA Tour.

The Republic of Korea native is currently tied for second in the People’s Republic of China alongside Yu Liu, sitting three shots back of her fellow countrywoman Mi Hyang Lee, who leads at 12-under. After getting off to a bit of a quiet start with a ho-hum 71 on Thursday, Choi carded a pair of back-to-back 68s in the second and third rounds to vault into the top three with 18 holes remaining at Jian Lake Blue Bay Course.

Moving Day saw the 26-year-old nearly go bogey-free, as Choi got off to a rip-roaring start on her opening nine, making an immediate birdie on the par-4 first hole and then adding two more birdies to her tally on the third and fourth holes. She landed another blow on the par-4 sixth hole to climb to 9-under total and got to 10-under when she birdied the par-5 eighth hole.

Choi then pumped the brakes after turning in 31, hopping on the par train for her first seven holes of the back nine before dropping her lone shot of the day on the par-4 17th hole. She finished off round three with a par on 18 to post at 9-under overall, leaving herself needing to make up a three-stroke deficit in the final round if she wants to challenge Lee.

“I had a really good start of the round, and my shot was really good, and I had lots of birdie chances. I also made a lot of long putts,” said Choi. “The back nine, it was not a really good situation compared to the front nine, but I made a lot of good saves. I think it was the wind. Because of the wind, I couldn't hit my second shot near the pin.

“Especially holes 10 and 13, there was a lot of wind into me, so I hit hybrid, so second shot it was hard to get my score, and I missed some birdie putts. I think that was the reason for it.”

This is Choi’s second time teeing it up in the Blue Bay LPGA, as she made her debut in the event back in 2024, ultimately finishing alone in ninth after posting a four-day total of 10-under. This week marks her third start of the 2026 season, and so far, Choi has found herself with some good form early, tying for eighth at the Honda LPGA Thailand and then tying for 21st in the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.

This is the 20th time that Choi has found herself within five of the lead entering the final round since she joined the LPGA Tour back in 2022, with the most recent instance coming last November at the Maybank Championship, a tournament that saw Choi finish second to Miyu Yamashita after losing in a three-way playoff to the Japanese major champion.

Choi is, of course, incredibly hungry to become a Rolex First-Time Winner, an accolade that has continued to elude her for the past several years. And while she will be doing everything in her power to finally add that long-sought-after tally to her win column on Sunday in China, Choi is just as excited for what awaits after the final round of the Blue Bay LPGA – a much-needed trip home to Korea.

"I had a lot of wins in Korea, and I had a lot of chances in the United States when I came to the LPGA, so I really want to play well tomorrow. I want to think it's the first round, and I want to keep on my pace,” said Choi. “I have the last round left. I am actually playing four (tournaments) in a row now, so I'm a little bit tired, and I'm going to rest well.

“I'm going to think it's not competing for the trophy, but thinking about going back to Korea makes me a little excited. So, I'm just trying to enjoy my round tomorrow.”

Hye-Jin Choi Hoping to Chase Down First Victory on Sunday at Blue Bay LPGA

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