27:I[4820,["5805","static/chunks/e6d45805-5e96a16d30c44a8e.js","6705","static/chunks/8bb4d8db-7f30d69555864451.js","1872","static/chunks/1872-9c1894afb3bf6af4.js","4787","static/chunks/4787-43b884ae3c8c9f01.js","8999","static/chunks/8999-eee8bfd7ad14de2d.js","4660","static/chunks/4660-5b6f655b96de7ee4.js","3440","static/chunks/app/%5Bdomain%5D/%5B%5B...route%5D%5D/page-23925d460a2209fd.js"],"default"] 28:T7fe,

Hye-Jin Choi of the Republic of Korea played the front nine at Pine Beach Golf Links in 8-under 28 and finished with a 6-under 66 on Saturday to move into a tie for second at the BMW Ladies Championship in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do.

Choi, 27, is 13-under 203 through three rounds, four shots behind leader Haeran Ryu, who stands at 17-under 199 with one round remaining.

Starting the third round T11 at 7-under 137, Choi made six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 sixth over her first nine holes. The run carried her to 15-under at the turn and put pressure on Ryu at the top of the leaderboard.

“I had a really good score on the front nine,” Choi said. “I felt good about my ball-striking early on, so I was able to play confidently and make a lot of birdie putts.”

She added a birdie at the par-4 10th to reach 16-under, but the back nine was bumpier. Choi finished the round with eight birdies, one eagle, two bogeys and a double bogey at the par-5 17th, which cost her momentum down the stretch.

“I missed my second shot on the par-5 17th,” said Choi. “Looking back, I think I misjudged the shot.”

Her ball-striking was the story of the day. Choi hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation and 11 of 14 fairways, averaging 234.0 yards off the tee, and needed 29 putts. Her approach play has been a strength all season: she ranks 14th on the LPGA Tour in strokes gained approach at +0.79 per round and eighth in strokes gained total at +1.51.

Choi has made 18 cuts in 23 starts this season with five top-10 finishes: T8 at Honda LPGA Thailand

Hye-Jin Choi's Front-Nine 28 Fuels Charge Into Contention at BMW Ladies Championship

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