Kim A-lim continues to stay on top at Tournament of Champions in Orlando

FLORIDA – South Korean Kim A-lim stayed atop the leaderboard at the LPGA Tournament of Champions on Feb 1, posting a five-under 67 in the third round of the event in Orlando.

Kim, who also led after the first and second rounds, sits at 15-under 201 heading into Feb 2 (Feb 3, Singapore time). She holds a three-shot advantage over Linn Grant of Sweden, who also carded a 67 at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club.

Even though she has been in front of the pack after each of the first three rounds, she does not plan on taking her foot off the gas during her final 18 holes.

“Safer not my style,” the 29-year-old said.

“I feel I want to go just hit it. That’s all. I really focus on my line. That’s my goal.”

She cruised through the front nine on Feb 1, picking up two birdies before an eagle at the par-five ninth. She also sank birdies at the 11th and 14th but settled for her lone bogey of the day at the par-four 18th hole.

The world No. 55 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 the 2020 US Women’s Open winner then missed her putt to salvage par.

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

Grant went birdie-birdie-bogey over her first three holes but was bogey-free the rest of the way, finishing with six birdies in all.

While she does want to rally for a victory on Feb 2, she is more concerned with fine-tuning her game for the rest of the season. The Tournament of Champions is the first event of the 2025 campaign.

“I think for now my mindset is... really trying to figure out where I’m at, all the changes I’ve done, how that feels, and really just trying to get every shot as good as possible,” Grant said.

“I think that mindset is good to have any week. It’s just easier now than in the middle of the season.”

Reigning champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand had the low round of the day with a seven-under 65 and is tied for third with American Nelly Korda (67). They are four strokes back.

Ko said: “It’s definitely some good momentum going into tomorrow. No matter how I finish tomorrow, it’s been so much fun getting to see some familiar faces that I’ve seen over the past few years and meeting new people.”

American Lauren Coughlin (68) is in sole possession of fifth at eight-under 208. South Korea’s Ko Jin-young (70) and Japan’s Rio Takeda (71) are tied for sixth, while Celine Boutier of France (69) and Leona Maguire of Ireland (72) are joint-eighth. REUTERS, AFP