Korean stays on course for wire-to-wire Women's Scottish Open win at Dundonald

All week long at blustery Dundonald Links, it’s looked as though she’s been playing a different course to everyone else in a field which includes seven of the world’s top ten.

Having opened with impressive rounds of 66-67 to sit five shots clear at the halfway stage, the 33-year-old didn’t give much hope for the chasing pack in the penultimate circuit on the Ayrshire coast.

She birdied the par-3 seventh going out, dropped her only shot of the day at the tenth but quickly repaired that damage with her second birdie-2 of the round at the tricky 11th.

All her other scores were pars, adding up to a 71 for a 12-under-par total and still holding a five-shot lead over Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn, with German Esther Henseleit and Japan’s Erika Hara two shots further back in joint-third.

Shin, who is based in Las Vegas, has now recorded five consecutive rounds under par at this event - the longest active streak in the $2 million tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the LET and LPGA.

In the opening two rounds, she had 13 birdies - the most of any player in the field - and didn’t have a three-putt, which is quite a feat on some of these undulating greens.

Her sole win on the LPGA Tour came ten years ago in the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout presented by JTBC, but, on the evidence so far this week, that lengthy gap is about to be bridged.

“This is the best ball-striking I've ever had coming into the Scottish Open,” admitted Shin. “I felt that during the practice round, as well, I was a lot less fearful over the ball compared to other years. So that has really helped my confidence.”

Shin’s caddie this week, Shane Codd, normally caddies for Swede Madelene Sagstrom. The temporary partnership working well here has only been made possible by Sagstrom stepping away for a spell in preparation for her first child.

“Not get ahead of myself,” she replied to being asked about her mindset for the final round. “It's really hard, though. I can't stop thinking about it. Every shot, I'm like, oh, my God. So I'm going to try my best to stay present.”

Winner of the US Juniors Girls’ Championship 20 years ago - she was the event youngest winner at 13 - Shin is bidding to become the third Korean to land the Scottish title after Mi-hyang Lee at Dundonald Links in 2017 then M.J. Hur at The Renaissance Club two years later.

“I really like coming here,” she admitted. “I don't mind the weather and I love links golf courses. It's one of my favourite types of golf courses. Yeah, it's always been my favourite stop. I don't think I've ever skipped The Scottish Open. Yeah, really enjoying it.”

With just seven players under par after 54 holes, world No 1 Nelly Korda sits joint-29th on five over, one less than defending champion Lottie Woad. Charlety Hull, who had a 9 on her first-round card, is on eight over.

After holing a monster birdie putt on her final hole on Friday to make the cut, Scotland’s Hannah Darling heads into the closing circuit lying in a share of 58th. She’d have been looking for better than an 80, but it’s been one of those testing weeks for lots of players - apart from one!