GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Grace Kim broke out late Saturday afternoon at Blythefield Country Club, making four of the final six holes to take a five-stroke lead into the final round of the Meijer LPGA Classic.
Tied for the second-round lead with Ali Ewing, Kim shot a 6-under 66 to move to 17-under 199. The 23-year-old Australian won in a playoff last year in Hawaii for her only LPGA Tour title. He blew a big lead in April in Los Angeles at the JM Eagle LA Championship.
“Giving myself another chance, I guess to do it again and really do it,” Kim said. “I know I’ll do my best for tomorrow and everyone else will. This golf course calls for a lot of birdies and there are a lot of good players out here. “
Ewing followed her second-round 63 with a 71 to finish in a tie for second with Lexi Thompson, Anna Nordqvist, Allisen Corpuz and Narin An.
“It was a bit of a struggle today,” Ewing said. “I made some really good beams to stick with early on.”
Thompson, the 2015 winner who said this will be her last year playing a full schedule, played the final six holes on the front nine in 7-under for a 65. She has gone more than five years without a win.
“I just got into a groove,” Thompson said. “This is a golf course where you know you have to come out and play aggressively and make a lot of birdies. I just came out feeling really comfortable, got some good swings and rolled into pitches.”
Nordqvist also shot a 65. Corpuz had a 68 and An 69.
Kim had three straight birdies on the front nine at Nos. 5-7, dropped a putt at the par-5 10th, then made a late charge with birdies at the par-3 13th, par-5 14th, par-4 16th and par- 5 18th.
“Obviously, I finished pretty strong, so hopefully I can keep it going,” Kim said. “Good evening meal. I saw a movie yesterday. That probably helped a little too. Maybe do it again tonight and see. Fresh for tomorrow.”
Lilia Vu, a former No. 1 player and two-time winner last year, was tied for 14th at 9 under in her return from a back injury that sidelined her after the Ford Championship in late March. He shot 68.
Brooke Henderson, the Canadian who won the event in 2017 and 2019, shot a 73 to move into a tie for 24th at 7 under. Defending champion Leona Maguire is tied for 57th at 3 under after a 72.
Top-seeded Nelly Korda bowed out on Friday after losing her second straight stretch of six wins in seven matches. Won at Blythefield in 2021 in a tournament-record 25 under.
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is next week at Sahalee outside Seattle.