South Korean Hye In Yeom held a three stroke advantage heading into the final nine holes at the Xiamen International Ladies Open in China.
The 23-year-old from Incheon began the fourth round tied for the lead at 12 under par with Thailand’s Kusuma Meechai.
However, after being joined in the lead by Gwladys Nocera after three holes, Yeom broke away from the chasing pack at 13 under after a bogey on the second followed by birdies on six and nine for an outward total of one under par.
Nocera and Meechai slipped back to 10 under par after five holes and were tied for second with the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters champion Beth Allen after the American recorded her third birdie of the day on the 10th hole.
China’s home hope Jing Yan, who birdied the third and sixth holes, was just one shot behind Yeom before she ran up a double bogey seven on the par-5 ninth hole for an outward total of level par 37 and total of nine under par.
Conditions are warm and comfortable for the final round at Orient Golf and Country Club but breezier than the first three rounds.
