Mirim Lee Leads Kia Classic


South Korean Mirim Lee posted a 6-under 66 to forge a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Kia Classic. The $1.7 million LPGA Tour event is taking place at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, Calif.

The 24-year-old Lee, a two-time winner last year, carded seven birdies and a bogey to enter Sunday at 16-under 200, a shot ahead of American Alison Lee, who also shot 66, and three in front of Japan's Sakura Yokomine (67) and American Cristie Kerr (68).

Mirim Lee commented later that she feels "comfortable" at Aviara, and her mantra this week has been "patience, patience, patience."

The 20-year-old Alison Lee is a recent UCLA grad making just her fourth start as a professional. Despite her youth, she's an accomplished player, winning the 2014 Pac-12 title as a freshman and being the co-medalist in this year's LPGA Q-school. On Saturday Alison Lee recorded eight birdies - including on the final three holes - and two bogeys.

"I feel like I've had a lot of experience and played in a lot of tournaments to know that I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself," she told reporters. "So, over the last stretch of holes, I just played my own game, stayed in the moment, and to be honest, I didn't even know what I shot until I signed my scorecard."

Sharing fifth at 12-under 204 are South Korean Se Ri Pak - who fired the low round of the day - an 8-under 64, Americans Paula Creamer and Jennifer Song, who each shot 66, and No. 1-ranked Lydia Ko (67).

After a chip-in eagle on the par-4 seventh followed by birdies on Nos. 8, 11, 13 and 14, Ko took the lead at 14-under. But she bogeyed the 16th and 18th to fall four strokes behind Mirim Lee.

"I was kind of on and off with the long clubs, but I felt like I hit the ball well, and that means I could be a little bit more positive about (the round)," Ko said. "The only really loose shot was that tee shot on 16 (when she found a water hazard that led to a bogey) and my second shot on 18. But it's good that I'm confident enough that I can go for these tough pin positions."

Alone in ninth at 205 is Lexi Thompson (65, while tied for 10th another stroke back are Koreans Ha Na Jang, Inbee Park and Americans Katie Burnett, Brittany Lang and Morgan Pressel.

After carding a course-record-tying 64 on Friday, Pressel began the third round tied for the lead with Mirim Lee. But the 26-year-old Floridian could get any momentum going Saturday, carding three birdies and three bogeys for a 72.

Defending champion Anna Nordqvist had a 68 and shares 20th at 209.

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard.