Shin Da-in is chasing the first successful title defense in the history of the KG Ladies Open, a Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour event with a total purse of 1 billion won.
Shin carded a 5-under round with six birdies and one bogey in the third round on the 29th at Sunning Point Country Club (par 72) in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Her 9-under total of 207 lifted her from a tie for 18th the previous day into a share of the lead.
Shin, who won her first KLPGA Tour title at this event last year by beating Yoo Hyun-jo on the second playoff hole, improved her chances of defending the trophy. No player has won the KG Ladies Open twice since it began in 2011.
Shin picked up four of her strokes on the back nine. After a birdie at the par-4 11th, she birdied three straight holes from the 14th through the 16th. She dropped a shot with a bogey at the par-4 17th but sank a 6.5-meter birdie putt at the par-5 18th to finish tied for the lead.
"This year I have had better results in four-round events than in three-round events," Shin said. "I think the extra round is actually good fortune for me." The tournament was played over three rounds through last year but was expanded to four rounds this season.
Noh Seung-hee, Yoo A-hyun and Park Hye-jun joined Shin at the top at 9-under 207. Noh, who held the outright lead after the second round, shot even par, while Park is seeking a second career title after winning the Lotte Open in July last year.
One shot off the lead in a tie for fifth was Seo Kyo-rim, who is chasing a fifth win of the season and a third consecutive victory. Seo shaved four strokes off her score to press the leaders.
With everyone through a tie for 25th within four shots of the lead, a tight battle for the title is expected in the final round on the 30th.
