Republic of Korea native Youmin Hwang held her ground on Saturday at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, sitting at 2-under through 16 holes before play was suspended due to weather during the third round at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club.

The 22-year-old, who is the only 2026 rookie in the field in Orlando, began the day tied for fifth at 6-under and had climbed into a tie for third at 8-under when play was called, five shots behind leader Nelly Korda, who currently holds the clubhouse lead at 13-under.

Now, with two holes remaining in her third round, Hwang will return on Sunday morning to complete round three, as well as the final 18 holes of her first event as an LPGA Tour member.

Starting on the front nine, Hwang opened with a stretch of pars before suffering her lone setback of the day on the par-4 third hole, where a bogey dropped her back to 5-under. Her first birdie of the round then came on the par-4 seventh, moving Hwang back to 6-under before she made the turn.

Hwang very much capitalized on the two par 5s on the back nine at Lake Nona. She birdied the par-5 11th to climb to 7-under, then added another birdie at the par-5 15th to reach 8-under. She then parred 16 before play was halted, leaving her Hwang still needing to play the par-3 17th and par-4 18th holes.

So far in round three, Hwang has hit 13 of 16 greens in regulation, found seven of 13 fairways and averaged 286 yards off the tee, giving herself several birdie opportunities despite difficult scoring conditions. Hwang has additionally only hit 27 putts through 16 holes, six of which have been one-putts.

Saturday’s round followed a breakout performance on day two that saw Hwang surge up the leaderboard with a 5-under 67. Beginning the second round in a tie for 16th at 1-under, she climbed into a tie for fifth at 6-under, thanks in large part to a dramatic eagle at the par-4 18th, where she holed out from the fairway, what was the highlight of her day on Friday.

Hwang secured her spot in this year’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions field with her breakthrough victory at the 2025 LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei, where she became the first non-member to win on the LPGA Tour since November of the previous season.

She birdied five of the final six holes in Hawaii to earn her first LPGA Tour title, later electing to defer the immediate LPGA Tour membership she was offered as part of her non-member victory to the 2026 season, which is why Hwang is currently competing as a rookie.

And now, with two holes left to complete in round three and 18 more to play to decide a champion, Hwang has put herself into a good position as she looks to chase down the leaders and pick up her second career victory at Lake Nona in the first event of her rookie season.

Youmin Hwang Holds Her Ground to Stay in Contention After Play Suspended at Lake Nona

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