Choi Hye-jin slips to second at LPGA's The Annika

South Korea's Choi Hye-jin slipped from a share of the lead to second place after the third round of The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, an LPGA Tour event offering $3.25 million in prize money.

Choi shot an even-par 70 with four birdies and four bogeys in chilly, windy conditions at the par-70 Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, on Saturday (Korean time).

After sharing the lead through the first two rounds, Choi dropped to second at 12-under 198.

American Lindy Duncan moved into the sole lead at 13-under 197 after carding a bogey-free 69 with one birdie.

Japan's Yuri Yoshida, who won the BMW Ladies Championship in Haenam, South Korea, last month, shot a 67 to move into third at 11-under 199.

Choi struggled on the front nine for the second consecutive day.

She opened with back-to-back bogeys on the first and second holes, both par 4s, and dropped another shot at the par-4 fifth.

Choi recovered with consecutive birdies at the par-4 sixth and par-5 seventh holes before adding birdies at the par-4 13th and par-5 14th. However, a bogey on the par-4 18th left her with an even-par round.

"The weather was quite chilly today, and I felt the course had become firmer than before," Choi said in an LPGA interview. "Rather than attacking the pins directly, I tried to roll the ball onto the greens."

Choi, who joined the LPGA Tour in 2022 and is still seeking her first victory, reflected on previous missed opportunities.

"I have memories of missing out on wins, but those were valuable experiences, too," she said. "Even if things don't go well on the front nine tomorrow, I'll stay focused until the end."

Fellow South Korean Yoon Ina climbed to fourth place at 10-under 200 after shooting a 1-under 69 with four birdies and three bogeys.

Yu Hae-ran, who had been dealing with a finger injury, surged into a tie for fifth at 9-under 201 after a bogey-free round of 65 with five birdies.

"My hand isn't 100 percent yet, so I wanted to see whether I would be able to play in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship," Yu said. "It's better than it was in the first two rounds, and I barely felt any pain today."

World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States shot a 1-over 71 with four birdies, a double bogey and three bogeys to finish the third round tied for eighth at 7-under 203.

(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)