With LPGA title on home soil in sight, Ryu Hae-ran ready to have fun

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- Playing through windy and rainy conditions on the southern coast of her native South Korea, Ryu Hae-ran had a long day Saturday in the third round of the BMW Ladies Championship.

It was all worth it in the end, as Ryu seized a 54-hole lead of the lone LPGA Tour event held in South Korea at 17-under 199. She shot a four-under 68 with five birdies and one bogey to open up a four-stroke lead over three players, including two fellow South Koreans, Park Min-ji and Choi Hye-jin.

"Today was such a long day. We played for over six hours, so (I am) a little tired right now," Ryu said. "But I just tried to be more accurate with my shots because it was a little windy out there and there was a lot of rain today."

Ryu has put on a ball-striking clinic for three days at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul. She has missed only two greens and four fairways through 54 holes. She has struggled with her putter, though, needing 32 putts in each of the first two rounds before making 31 putts Saturday.

She could have made more than the five birdies she had Saturday, but Ryu said she was still happy with the way she played on the greens. That putter helped her pick up three straight birdies to close out her round.

"Today, putts were just really good, better than the last two days," she said. "I tried to avoid making bogeys as much as I could. Those last three birdies felt like a gift."

Ryu is in the midst of the best season of her LPGA career. She won two major titles in the summer and is in contention for the Vare Trophy, given to the player with the lowest scoring average.

"I have already exceeded expectations for this year, and it doesn't matter if I don't win again this year," Ryu said. "I wonder if a season like this will ever come again. Right now, I am trying to enjoy the moment and enjoy the game of golf itself. If I just have fun tomorrow, then a good outcome will follow."