ORLANDO, Fla. — A Lim Kim extended her lead to three shots ahead of Linn Grant on Saturday during the LPGA Tour’s inaugural Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, with both players finishing the day with a score of 5-under 67 at Lake Nona.
Seeking to secure a wire-to-wire victory and her third title on the LPGA Tour, Kim achieved an eagle on the par-5 ninth from a greenside bunker and made a birdie on the par-4 14th hole. The 29-year-old golfer from South Korea added a birdie on the par-4 18th, elevating her total score to 15-under 201 for the tournament.
Kim has exhibited exceptional putting skills, leading the field with a total of 81 putts across the three rounds. Her past accolades include winning the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2024 LOTTE Championship, and three titles on the Korean tour.
“My goal has always been about focusing on my job rather than the results,” Kim stated. “I concentrate on my preparation and the process, then just take the shot. My current standing isn’t what matters to me.”
Linn Grant, who captured the 2023 Dana Open, remains in contention with strong performance, having closed her round with a birdie. The 25-year-old from Sweden expressed her focus on understanding her recent adjustments, stating, “I’m really trying to gauge where I stand with the changes I’ve made and trying to optimize every shot. I think maintaining that mindset is beneficial any week. It’s less challenging now than it tends to be mid-season.”
Defending champion Lydia Ko and top player Nelly Korda are tied for third place, trailing Kim by four strokes. Ko registered a stellar round of 65, marking her as the best performer of the day, while Korda carded a 67.
“Overall, my game has been quite solid,” Ko remarked. “I struck the ball decently on the first day but struggled a bit on the greens. That aspect of my game has seen the most improvement in the past couple of days. Golf can be unpredictable.”
Lauren Coughlin is positioned fifth at 8-under, following a score of 68 in her round.
In the celebrity competition, former NHL star Joe Pavelski led the pack with 109 points under the Modified Stableford Scoring system. Tennis legend Mardy Fish and actor Jack Wagner were in a tie for the second position. Meanwhile, amateur player Asterisk Talley topped the amateur field also with 109 points.
