SINGAPORE — Australians Hannah Green and Minjee Lee have taken the lead at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, both finishing Saturday’s third round at 11-under 205 at the Sentosa Golf Club. Green, the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner, shot a 4-under 68, while Lee, a three-time major champion, posted a 69.
With only one stroke separating the leaders from the rest of the field, American Angel Yin and South Korea’s Haeran Ryu are tied for third at 9-under. As the final group played the eighth hole, six players were in contention, reflecting the tightly contested nature of the tournament.
Shifting Dynamics on the Course
Yin briefly seized the lead after making a birdie from off the green on the tenth hole, a feat that displaced her fellow American Auston Kim, who had led after the first two rounds. Kim faced challenges with back-to-back bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes, but managed to recover by sinking a 20-foot putt for bogey on the eighth, finishing with a 73 and landing in a tie for sixth at 8-under.
“Definitely, there are a lot of birdies to be made, but it’s very easy to make bogey,” Green noted, emphasizing the importance of minimizing mistakes. “If I can continue to hit the ball into the greens, I’ll be in good shape.” She expressed confidence in her performance, despite playing alongside her friend Lee.
Lee, who has secured her position as a formidable competitor in women’s golf with major victories in recent years, including her first major at the Evian Championship in 2021, and her latest at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2023, is also focused on maintaining her momentum.
“Good golf and good luck. Honestly, there’s nothing much you can do about it,” Yin said. “There were instances where I made unbelievable up-and-downs. That’s skill and luck to me.”
Challengers and Rankings
Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul, who won the previous week’s tournament in Thailand, finished Saturday with a score of 70, placing her at 3-under and tied with defending champion Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson, who both shot 71. All three are currently trailing the leading Australians by eight strokes.
The HSBC Women’s World Championship features a 72-player, no-cut format, making it the second of three events in the LPGA’s early year Asian swing. The final stop will take place next week at Hainan Island, China. As the tournament progresses, the pressure mounts for the leaders, with the potential for dramatic shifts in the standings as they head into the final round.
