Sawt Falasteen - Kim holds on to lead at LPGA season-opener

The 29-year-old former US Women's Open champion, leading by three after Friday's second round, produced a near-flawless round to retain that cushion at the 54-hole mark.

The only blemish came on the 18th, when Kim three-putted to make the only bogey of her round, leaving her on 15 under.

Yet even with that late bogey, Kim's 67 was good enough to keep her clear of Sweden's Linn Grant, who shot a five-under-par 67 to stay in touch on 12 under.

New Zealand's Lydia Ko, meanwhile, is four shots behind Kim after carding a dazzling seven-under-par 65, tied for third alongside world number one Nelly Korda, who is also on 11 under after a third-round 67.

Kim though will fancy her chances of completing a wire-to-wire victory on Sunday following another impressive round at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club.

The Korean picked up early birdies on the second and sixth holes to move to 12 under, and then holed out for a brilliant eagle three on the par-five ninth to reach the turn at 14 under.

Two more birdies down the stretch left her firmly on course for a bogey-free round.

But Kim offered hope to her rivals after three-putting on the 18th green.

A long birdie putt went rolling roughly eight-feet past the hole, and Kim then missed her putt to salvage par.

Kim is chasing a second LPGA title in three months following her victory at the Lotte Championship last November.

H.Darwish--SF-PST