Daytona, Fla. — Soo-Bin Kim tied for low-round of the day and improved 29 spots with a masterful 7-under 65 at the LPGA qualifying final on Saturday, easily advancing to Sunday’s finale after the field narrowed to 70 golfers at +2.
The Coquitlam, B.C. resident made eight birdies in her penultimate round, including three on the last four holes, to jump into a five-way tie for 9th overall at -8.
Canadian-born golfers Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Samantha Richdale and Maude-Aimee Leblanc will join Kim for Sunday’s final at the LPGA International Hills Course.
Toronto’s Lee-Bentham, the 2011 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, continued her solid play from earlier this week, carding an unblemished 2-under 70 and advancing into 32nd place.
Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., who began the day in 11th place, struggled in Rd. 4, making three bogeys and a double on her front nine en route to a 5-over 77, but still survived the field’s contraction. She will tee off on Sunday tied for 54th.
Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., who started Saturday’s round just outside of the cut line, played her way back into contention with a 2-under 70. She finished in a tie for 68th, one stroke ahead of the cutline.
Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. (T72), Augusta James of Bath, Ont. (T80) and Brittany Henderson of Smith Falls, Ont. (T80) all narrowly failed to advance by two strokes or less.
Also unable to qualify for Sunday’s final was Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault-Sur-Le-Lac, Que. (T99), who fell more than 50 spots on Saturday after going 7-over par on her final nine holes of the day.
Other Canadians in the field this week were Charlottetown’s Lorie Kane (T103), Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont. (T109), Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. (T117) and Brogan McKinnon of Mississauga, Ont. (T137).