Kim surges clear as Meijer LPGA Classic comes to boil

Australian Grace Kim birdied four of her final six holes to open a five-shot lead heading for the final round at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Michigan.

FULL LEADERBOARD

Kim sits at 17-under for the tournament, leading five players by five strokes, including second-round co-leader Ally Ewing.

Another four players are six shots off the lead in a tie for seventh at Blythefield Country Club.

Stephanie Meadoe got round in a one-under-par 71 to sit on four-under, 13 shots off the leader, while Leona Maguire is one behind Meadow on three-under. Maguire shot a level-par 72 on Saturday.

After carding three straight birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh, Kim’s only blemish came with a bogey on the par-five 10th. She more than made up for it with birdies on 13 and 14, the 16th and the par-five finishing hole.

“Well, I guess I knew that my golf game was good enough, especially since I’ve dealt with this position in LA recently this year,” Kim said.

“I think I learned from that experience… (and) just tried to do everything to keep my mind off the golf course or anything to do with golf. Yeah, I guess just tried to ease myself into the warm-ups and try to have a free mind out there.”

Anna Nordgvist and Lexi Thompson both shot 65 on moving day to vault 22 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for second at 12-under.

After firing a 63 on Friday, Ewing fell back to the field with three bogeys on the back nine.