Ruoning Yin leads FM Championship after chip-in birdie and late 68

Norton,UPDATED: Aug 30, 2026 09:34 IST

Ruoning Yin took the third-round lead at the FM Championship on Saturday after a 4-under 68, helped by a chip-in birdie from just off the 18th green and a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th. The Chinese player moved to 12-under 204, one shot clear of South Korea's Sei Young Kim and Hyo Joo Kim.

Yin said she was pleased with the way her game was shaping up heading into the final round. "I think my swing is in a good spot, my putting and every part of my game I think are pretty good," Yin said. "I'm just going to play my game. I'm not going to play safe when it's time to go aggressive."

Yin, who has five LPGA Tour victories, won twice in 2023 and three times in 2024. She said patience would be important in the final round. "I think just play my game," Yin said. "I knew today was going to be tough and tomorrow is going to be tougher, so just be patient and play my game."

Sei Young Kim, who led after the first round with a 64, bounced back from a second-round 74 with a 67. "A little more emotional today," she said. "It kind of helps today, like positive way." Hyo Joo Kim carded a 70 and stayed in contention. She has won the Founders Cup and Ford Championship this season. "I just want to make sure I'm doing a good job tomorrow," she said through a translator.

Somi Lee, who shot 70, and Jenny Bae, who had a 72, were tied for fourth at 8 under. Japan's Miyu Yamashita, who had shared the second-round lead, fell six shots behind after a 75. On Sunday in Canada, she had tied the tour's 72-hole scoring record in a nine-stroke victory.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda was tied for 49th after a third straight 72 in the final event before the Solheim Cup matches in the Netherlands. European captain Anna Nordqvist was 1 over after a 73 in her final LPGA Tour event, as Yin headed into the last round with a one-shot advantage over Sei Young Kim and Hyo Joo Kim.

With PTI Inputs

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