Jiyai Shin, Alison Lee lead Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship

PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. — One in all Seri’s Children had an unlikely share of the lead within the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship after a windy Saturday afternoon at Palos Verdes Golf Membership.

Jiyai Shin — the 35-year-old South Korean star who final performed a full LPGA Tour schedule in 2013 — shot a bogey-free 8-under 63 on the course overlooking the Pacific Ocean, then ended up tied for the lead hours later when defending champion Ruoning Yin closed with a triple bogey.

Pak is among the most influential gamers in LPGA historical past, a pioneer for South Korean gamers to observe her path. Shin, who now performs the Japanese and Korean excursions to be nearer to dwelling, acquired a sponsor exemption within the occasion.

“Seri is my idol, nonetheless,” Shin stated, “Once I first time enjoying LPGA, they known as (us) Seri’s Children. That is her first internet hosting occasion, so I really feel so proud. Simply glad to enjoying right here.”

A stroke forward coming into the par-4 18th, Yin drove to the fitting into thick tough beneath bushes, with extra bushes forward. As an alternative of hitting sideways to the golf green, the 21-year-old Chinese language participant tried to punch a low shot by way of a gap within the bushes towards the inexperienced, however the ball struck a trunk and bounced again into extra bother.

Seven strokes behind second-round chief Malia Nam coming into the day, Shin was tied with former UCLA participant Alison Lee (68) at 9-under 204.

“I’ve by no means gained out right here earlier than and that is one thing I am nonetheless in search of, my first victory on the LPGA Tour,” the 29-year-old Lee stated. “It could be actually cool to win at dwelling in entrance of all my family and friends.”

The fourth-ranked Yin had a 71 to drop right into a tie for third at 7 beneath with second-ranked Nelly Korda (67) and former College of Southern California gamers Nam (72) and Gabriela Ruffels (65).

“General, it is a good day,” Yin stated. “I price 8 our of 10 as we speak as a result of I hit numerous actually stable photographs. Simply had some dangerous luck on the final gap.”

Korda gained the LPGA Drive On Championship in late January in Florida in her final occasion.

“I might say the hardest day with the wind and slightly bit softer circumstances with the rain we had within the morning,” Korda stated. “I might say the wind was an enormous issue.”

Shin had 5 straight birdies on Nos. 3-7 and performed the final 4 in 3 beneath with birdies on Nos. 15, 16 and 18. A two-time Ladies’s British Open winner with 11 LPGA Tour victories, the 5-foot-2 participant is among the most correct hitters in girls’s golf — a very good match for the hilly, tree-lined course with small greens.

“Properly, the very first thing is you possibly can see the how stunning ocean view right here, so we should be specializing in the golf,” Shin stated. “After which, truly, the setting will not be for the lengthy golfer. … I am not an extended hitter, so after I apply spherical, `OK, I might need an opportunity (to win) on this golf course.'”

The 24-year-old Nam, from Hawaii, is making her second profession LPGA Tour begin.

“It was positively a wrestle as we speak with the wind, however I feel it is robust for everybody,” Nam stated. “I simply tried to reduce the errors and hold shifting ahead.”

Ruffels, from Australia, had 5 straight 3s in a front-nine 31. She birdied Nos. 2-5, all par-4 holes, parred the par-3 sixth and birdied the par-5 seventh.

“I putted rather well on the market as we speak,” Ruffels stated “I form of knew that it wasn’t going to be a really low scoring day with the wind.”