WEATHER ALERT

3 advisories in effect for 5 regions in the area

Akie Iwai leads at windy Hoakalei, with 8 players a shot back and Nelly Korda 2 behind

Associated Press

Associated Press

Published: 

Tags: A Lim Kim, Nasa Hataoka, Jeeno Thitikul, Jessica Porvasnik, Pornanong Phatlum, Brooke Matthews, Peiyun Chien, Megan Khang, Hyo Joo Kim, Minami Katsu, Nelly Korda, Akie Iwai

LPGA Tour Golf Akie Iwai, of Japan, tees off on the ninth hole during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship golf tournament, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at TPC River's Bend in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Tanner Pearson/AP)

HONOLULU (AP) — Akie Iwai fought through gusting wind Friday at Hoakalei Country Club to take the third-round lead in the LOTTE Championship, with eight players a stroke back and Nelly Korda two behind.

Iwai, the 23-year-old Japanese player who won the Portland Classic in August for her first LPGA Tour title, shot a 1-under 71 in the difficult afternoon conditions to get to 13-under 203.

Second-round leader Youmin Hwang followed her career-best 62 on Thursday with a 75 to drop into a tie for second with Minami Katsu (66), Hyo Joo Kim (66), Megan Khang (67), Peiyun Chien (68), Brooke Matthews (69), Pornanong Phatlum (69) and Jessica Porvasnik (72).

The second-ranked Korda birdied the 18th for a 69 to get to 11 under.

Coming off a seven-victory season, Korda hasn’t won this year and has lost her No. 1 ranking to Jeeno Thitikul. The tour has had a different winner in all 24 of its official tournaments this year.

Nasa Hataoka also was 11 under after a 71. Defending champion A Lim Kim shot a 66 to get to 10 under.

Iwai steadied herself after a bogey on the par-3 12th, making a sensational up-and-down on No. 13 for the first of six straight pars. She missed a chance to double the lead on the par-5 18th, blasting out of a bunker to 6 feet and failing to get the birdie try to fall.

On the par-4 13th, Iwai avoided a second straight bogey after hitting into a massive fairway bunker and leaving her approach 56 yards short in the right rough. She hit a wedge to 3 feet to start the par run.

Iwai shot a 64 on Wednesday to take the first-round lead, then had a 68 on Thursday to fall three strokes behind Hwang, the Korean LPGA star playing on a sponsor invitation.

Iwai's twin sister Chisato, also has won this year as a tour rookie, taking the Mayakoba event in May. On Friday, Chisato was 9 under after a 71.

After the event, the LPGA heads to Asia for tournaments five straight weeks in Shanghai, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan.

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

About The Author