A Lim Kim fires ace and closing birdies for LPGA lead

Grace Kim is hanging tough in the Lotte Championship with the Australian shooting a 4-under 68 in the third round to move to joint ninth at the Hoakalei County Club.

But while the 23-year-old is making moves and heading in the right direction, so is A Lim Kim who is not showing any nerves and holding strong at the top of the leaderboard.

A Lim Kim had a hole-in-one on the par-3 ninth and birdied the final two holes for a 5-under 67 and one-stroke lead over Nataliya Guseva on Friday.

"Calculate number and then chose line and then hit it," Kim said about the ace. "I think 99 per cent lucky."

A Lim Kim rebounded from a bogey on the par-4 16th with birdies on the par-4 17th and par-5 18th. She had a 14-under 202 total with a round left in the event that started Wednesday.

"Every tournament I think same - focus on my line and then hit it," Kim said. "That's it. Any result, I don't care."

A Lim Kim is No.65 in the Race to CME Globe, and only has two tournaments left to crack the top 60 and earn a spot in the season finale that pays $4 million ($A6m) to the winner.

The 29-year-old South Korean player won the US Women's Open in December 2020 for her lone LPGA Tour title.

Guseva, the 21-year-old player trying to become the first Russian winner in LPGA Tour history, shot 68. She bogeyed the 17th for the third day in a row.

"I enjoy playing out there," Guseva said. "Still a lot of wind, but not as much as yesterday. Super excited for tomorrow."

Ryann O'Toole was third at 11 under after a 69, but she wasn't pleased with the pace of play.

"Very slow. Felt like it was turtle slow," O'Toole said.

Jin Young Ko shot 67 to join Auston Kim (69) and Yuri Yoshida (71) at 10 under.

As it stands, Grace Kim is in 43rd spot in the CME rankings and not in danger of missing the top 60, but looking over her shoulder is Stephanie Kyriacou.

The 22-year-old Sydneysider is currently ranked No.58 after dropping one spot.

Kyriacou had a 2-under 70 on Friday and is tied 30th at three under for the tournament with compatriot Robyn Choi (71).