Sei Young Kim blows all but 2 strokes of 8-shot lead in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sei Young Kim had an eight-stroke lead with five holes left Saturday at El Caballero Country Club in the JM Eagle LA Championship. She ended up needing to get up-and-down from off the back of the 18th green to salvage a two-shot advantage. “Oh, wow, it feels like roller-coaster,” the 33-year-old South Korean said.
Her late meltdown with four straight bogeys gave two-time event winner Hannah Green and others who thought they were playing for second a chance Sunday in the final event before the first women’s major of the season. “It’s golf. It can be happen again," Kim said.
"It’s learn and then learn and learn. Mistake and then learn. Hopefully, success end of the day tomorrow.
” Kim shot a 1-under 71 to get to 15-under 201. Green, the 2023 and 2024 champion at Wilshire Country Club, had a 67 to join Suvichaya Vinijchaitham (67), Jessica Porvasnik (68) and Ina Yoon (71) at 13 under. Former UCLA star Patty Tavatanakit was another stroke back after a 67.
“I’m just going to go out there and play golf,” Tavatanakit said. The tournament is being played at El Caballero for the second straight year because of course renovations at Wilshire. The Chevron Championship is next week in Houston for the first of the five women’s major tournaments.