In Gee Chun Carries Positivity Into Final Round After Saturday Stumbles at 2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship

In Gee Chun battled through her third round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and despite an over-par score Saturday she still has a three-shot lead heading into the finale at Congressional Country Club and is feeling positive about her position.

Chun is looking to win her third major championship and first KPMG Women’s PGA.

Chun, who is back where she was after her opening 8-under 64 (a new course record at the Blue Course at Congressional Country Club), opened with a bogey on Saturday but got it back with a birdie on the par-3 2nd.

She was steady enough through the next 12 holes making two bogeys and two birdies, but Chun added another bogey on the par-4 15th before she made an unfortunate double bogey on No. 16. Her club on her approach got tangled in some long grass and she was forced to scramble.

“It was a little tough out there. I’m so proud of myself because I hang in there after I had double bogey on 16,” said Chun. “After I made two pars and then, I’m so proud of that, yeah.”

Chun parred her final two holes to come into the house with a 3-over 75. It was a tricky – and hot – day at Congressional Country Club.

“The weather was really hot, and the sun is really strong out here. Before I start play, I already got all sweat on my body. Even from my arms, the water kept falling down,” said Chun. “It was hard.”

Sei Young Kim, who won this championship in 2020, along with Hye-Jin Choi and Lexi Thompson, are tied for second at 5 under.

Thompson, who has 18 top-10 finishes in majors in her career, said there’s not much she can do for now given the final-round chase. She’s ready to play her game and see how far up the leaderboard she can climb.

She will be in the final group with Choi and Chun on Sunday.

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“I’m going out tomorrow playing like I have the last three days,” said Thompson. “Playing relaxed, playing free, and just focusing on my game. Whatever all the girls do, that’s their control, and I’m in control of my game. That’s all I can focus on.”

Hannah Green, the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner, is alone in fifth at 4 under.

Thirty-five of the last 37 winners of women’s major champions were inside the top five through 54 holes, according to KPMG Performance Insights.

Chun said she’ll be trying to lean into her positive experiences from the first three days as she looks to try to win another major championship. Chun sits fourth on the LPGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, according to KPMG Performance Insights, and has had a solid season so far. But she hasn’t won on the LPGA Tour since 2018.

It is primed to be a big day for Chun in Sunday’s finale. But her positivity is what she’s hoping will help carry her into the winner’s circle.

“I’m so excited and looking forward to an exciting final round already,” said Chun. “If it’s going to be too easy, then I feel it is boring. I just want to enjoy another day tomorrow. Then I’m ready to go.”