Date: May 05, 2019
Author: Martin Blake

Minjee roars into LPGA contention again

Australia’s Minjee Lee has swept into contention again in the LPGA Tour’s Mediheal Championship in San Francisco.

The reigning Greg Norman medallist and world No. 2 is taking seriously her push to reach No. 1 in the world.

Despite a dreadful start in this tournament she shot a brilliant 67 at Lake Merced Golf Club today – the best round of the day in difficult conditions – to vault up into the top five.

Through three rounds, the Western Australian 22-year-old is four-under par overall and six shots from the lead held by South Korea’s Sei Young Kim. While she will need to go low tomorrow, she loves Lake Merced, where she won her US junior amateur title.

Lee already had a good day going when she walked to the 18th tee today but an eagle at the par-five finishing hole was the icing on the cake.

The Royal Fremantle product finished runner-up – beaten in a playoff – at this event last year.

Having won her most recent tournament, the LA Open, she is just 0.42 ranking points off Jin Young Ko’s world No. 1 spot, meaning tomorrow could be a monumental day for the Australian.

Meanwhile her brother Min Woo Lee is looking for a strong finish at the Volvo China Open on the European Tour today, the WA product and Golf Australia rookie squad member on the cusp of having made enough money in limited starts to earn himself a full European Tour card for 2020.

Min Woo Lee began the final round in Shenzhen tied-eighth, seven shots from the lead.

In North Carolina, Jason Day dropped out of the running in the Wells Fargo Championship with a third-round 74. Veteran John Senden is the leading Australian, tied 22nd.