The LPGA’s Asia Swing began this week in China at the 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai, and through 54 holes Mao Saigo holds a one-shot lead over Ruoning Yin heading into Sunday’s final round.
After opening with a 4-under 68 on Thursday, Saigo has posted consecutive rounds of 65 to vault to the top of the leaderboard.
She made the turn with a 2-under 34 on Saturday before doing some serious damage on the back nine. From Nos. 12-17, Saigo made three birdies (Nos. 12, 13 and 15) and an eagle (par-5 17th).
Yin, on the other hand, started slowly with a 2-under 70 on Thursday. However, she’s since shot rounds of 66-63 to earn solo second with 18 holes to play. Her 9-under effort on Saturday included seven birdies and an eagle.
Sei Young Kim is solo third at 15 under, three back. Yealimi Noh is alone in fourth at 13 under, five back, while a large group that includes Minjee Lee is tied for fifth at 11 under, seven back.
Kim has 12 career LPGA wins and is coming off a third-place finish.
Sei Young Kim followed up her opening-round 10-under 62 with a 2-under 70 on Friday and leads the 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai through 36 holes as the tournament heads on to Moving Day.
Kim made three birdies and a bogey around Qizhong Garden Golf Club on Friday and will take a one-stroke advantage over Mao Saigo and Lucy Li into the weekend. The 31-year-old has 12 career LPGA wins and is coming off a third-place finish at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Minjee Lee is alone in fourth at 10 under, two shots back, while Nasa Hataoka and Celine Boutier are part of a large group at 8 under, T-6.
“I think my game has just been improving little by little throughout the whole year,” Lee said. “I played one week in my sponsor’s event couple weeks ago and I just had a good result there, so just trying to ride the momentum. I also enjoy playing this golf course as well.”
Third-round TV coverage begins at 11 p.m. ET Friday on Golf Channel.
Danielle Kang, winner of the event in 2018 and 2019, shot 4 under.
Maja Stark teed off for the first time since the Solheim Cup in Shanghai and couldn’t believe the difference in not only her confidence, but how it felt inside the ropes at a regular LPGA stop.
“When you’re out here, you are usually alone,” said Stark. “Maybe a few people rooting for you. Yeah, feels so nice being able to hit good shots with that pressure. Now pressure doesn’t exist anymore, feels like in normal tournaments.”
Stark opened with a 6-under 66 at the Buick LPGA Shanghai at Qizhong Garden Golf Club to take a share of the early lead with Wichanee Meechai of Thailand.
The LPGA returned to China this week for the first time since 2019 due to ongoing restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Danielle Kang, winner of the event in 2018 and 2019, shot 4 under.
“My caddie, Brian, really helped me stay in the moment,” said Kang. “He’s like, it’s only Thursday. Stop looking at the leaderboard. We’re going to end up where you need to end up.”
Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Team Europe walk off the sixth green during Day Two of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 23, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The 23-year-old Stark posted a 2-1-1 record in her Solheim Cup debut in Spain, where Europe retained the cup in dramatic fashion. Stark partnerd with close friend Linn Grant in foursomes and notched a crucial singles victory over U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz.
“Being able to hit those putts with so much pressure, it just makes you feel like this is the easiest thing ever,” said Stark of being back at a regular event. “Because we don’t have thousands of people watch and a whole continent rooting for you, which is also weird.”
Stark noted that the time away from competition gave her an opportunity to refocus and really process what she’d done throughout the year and at Solheim, where she felt like a much different player.
“I moved on from stuff more quickly,” she said. “I managed to figure stuff out during the round sometimes.
“It felt like every putt was so important, so I just tried to keep that going and keep that out here and just actually think about what it’s for and not just, oh, this is for birdie. No, this is actually – this could be the winning putt.”
