By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Choi Na-yeon surged to the top of the leaderboard with a record-setting run Sunday (KST) at the Samsung World Championships.
The 21-year-old South Korean fired a career-best 9-under 63 for a 15-under 210 total at Torrey Pines South Course in San Diego to hold a two-shot lead over compatriot and second-round leader Shin Ji-yai, who had a round of 68. Choi had rounds of 71 and 67 on the first two days.
Her 63 was the second-best score in the history of the 29-year event, behind a round of 62 by another Korean, Grace Park, in 2000. The round improves her own personal best of 66 by three strokes, which she did twice ― in the second rounds of the NW Arkansas Championship in 2008 and 2009.
In addition, her 15-under matches the third-round total tournament record, set twice in 2002 and 2005 by Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, who won the contest five times.
Shin, 21, who was in full swing after her third Tour victory last week at Rogers, Ark. and took command at the turn, was plagued by two back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes to move her down to second place.
Japan's Ai Miyazato was one shot behind Shin at 204, while defending champion Paula Creamer of the United States and Lorena Ochoa, a two-time champion in the competition, tied for fourth at 8-under.
"I had a great round today. I feel almost perfect everything, driver good, iron shot good and wedge and putter. Everything good. I think perfect day today," said the second-year pro Choi, who finished second next to Yani Tseng of Taiwan in the rookie of the year race in 2008.
"I think actually I was nervous today, but I'm just trying more talk with the caddy and just keep trusting myself. And more aggression and more confidence. Actually, I feel like I have no lows, so I'm just trying everything."
Choi, who has yet to win on the LPGA Tour despite eight top-10 finishes, picked up six birdies on the front nine, including three consecutive from Nos. 2 to 4, and added two more on the 11th and 12th holes.
Her only miscue of the day came on the par-4 15th as she needed three putts even after her approach shot landed 13 meters from the hole, but Choi, who finished tied for 17th in last year's tournament, solidified her hopes to her first tournament win after draining birdies at Nos. 16 and 18.
Shin, who rallied from seven shots back to win in Arkansas, is confident entering the final round, where she will play with Choi and Miyazato.
"I think I know the course, course management. This is a big help for me because I played the last three days of the tournament more for the Sunday play,'' Shin said.
Choi in Shin are in good position to give Korea just its second win at the event titled-sponsored by the nation's largest conglomerate. Pak Se-ri won the title in 1999.