SEI YOUNG KIM LEADS BY 5 AT PELICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Sei Young Kim opened up a five-shot lead as Ally McDonald chased with an ace at the 12th on the third day of the Pelican Women's Championship.

South Korea's Sei Young Kim put herself in prime position to claim her 2nd victory in six weeks, having won her first major title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship last month, by producing an outstanding finish to extend her lead from one shot to five in the space of three holes.

USA Solheim Cup star Ally McDonald had put pressure on the world No 2 when she bounced back from a double-bogey at the eighth with a perfect tee shot at the short 12th. That got McDonald to within one of the leader, and the two traded birdies at the long 14th before Kim took control of the tournament as the American faltered. A par at the eighteenth completed a six-under 64 for Kim and a 54-hole score of -14 under, with McDonald carding a 68 to finish five shots back in 2nd place on -9.

Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow is in 3rd place after firing six birdies and four bogeys for a two-under-par third round of 68. Meadow is currently at -8 for the tournament, six shots behind the leader, Kim, and one shot ahead of New Zealand's Lydia Ko who carded a four-under-par third round of 66 to move into 4th place on -7.

Tied for 5th on -6, one shot behind the Kiwi, is a trio of Austin Ernst (USA), Brooke Henderson (CAN) and Minjee Lee (AUS).

England's Mel Reid surged into a share of 10th place after she fired a bogey free five-under-par 65 to get her to -2.