'Birdie machine' Ko Ji-woo sets 54-hole record, leads by 8 strokes

Ko Ji-woo, known as the "birdie machine," set a new 54-hole scoring record on the KLPGA Tour and surged to an eight-stroke lead at the Hione Resort Women's Open, which carries a purse of 1 billion won ($665,000).

Playing the third round Saturday at Hione Country Club (par 73) in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, Ko carded an eagle and eight birdies against one bogey for a 9-under-par 64, bringing her three-round total to 24-under-par 195. That left her eight strokes clear of the trio tied for second — Kim Min-ju, Jeon Ye-seong and Seo Eo-jin.

Ko's 24-under total is a new KLPGA Tour record for the lowest 54-hole score, surpassing the previous mark of 23-under by one stroke. Jo Jeong-min had set that record through three rounds of the Lotte Cantata Women's Open at Lotte Sky Hill Jeju Country Club in 2018.

With a title defense two years after her 2024 victory now within reach, Ko will also chase the 72-hole scoring record in Sunday's final round. The current mark of 29-under par was set by Hong Jeong-min en route to victory at the Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship at Monvert Country Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. Ko needs to shoot 6-under or better Sunday to break both the 54-hole and 72-hole records.

Ko's ball-striking was near flawless. She holed out for an eagle on the second hole (par 4) from 92 yards with a wedge, then reeled off three consecutive birdies on holes four through six to finish the front nine five strokes under par.

Her sharp iron play continued on the back nine. Ko made back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11 to extend her lead, then dropped a shot with a three-putt bogey on the 12th (par 4) before recovering with birdies on holes 13 and 15. She birdied all five par-5 holes on the day.

"My ball-striking has been solid overall," Ko said. "Particularly my second shots and short-game play around the greens have been consistent, which created a lot of birdie opportunities and translated into good scores. I don't think I played especially aggressively in this tournament — I just played my normal game and the results followed. Tomorrow I won't be thinking about protecting the lead. My goal is to play every hole with the same mindset I've had from the first day until now."

Seo Eo-jin posted a bogey-free 8-under round to join Kim Min-ju and Jeon Ye-seong at 16-under 203 in a three-way tie for second. With Ko's lead so commanding, the battle for the runner-up spot is expected to be the main storyline in the final round.

Seong Yu-jin, who had entered the third round in sole second place, managed only two birdies against a double bogey and slipped into a tie for seventh at 13-under 206.

Park Hyun-kyung and Im Hee-jeong each shot 5-under to share 11th place at 11-under 208. Kim Min-sol, a three-time winner this season, and defending champion Bang Shin-sil are tied for 48th at 5-under 214.