Buhai, Lee tied for third-round lead at the LPGA tournament in South Korea

Defending champion Lydia Ko, a South Korean-born New Zealander, shot 69 and was a stroke behind and tied for third with American Alison Lee, who shot 67.

Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa watches her tee shot on the second hole during the third round of the BMW Ladies Championship at the Seowon Hills Country Club in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, October 21, 2023. | Photo Credit: Lee Jin-man/ AP

Former Women’s British Open champion Ashleigh Buhai shot a 3-under 69 Saturday to move into a share of the third-round lead at the LPGA South Korea tournament.

Buhai and Minjee Lee, who shot 71, had 12-under totals of 204 on the Seowon Valley Country Club course outside Seoul.

Defending champion Lydia Ko, a South Korean-born New Zealander, shot 69 and was a stroke behind and tied for third with American Alison Lee, who shot 67.

Celine Boutier, who won the Scottish Open and the LPGA major Evian Championship back to back in August, had the lead briefly on the back nine but bogeys on 17 and 18 left her with a 68 and she she was tied for fifth with American Lauren Coughlin (67), two strokes behind the leaders.

No. 1-ranked Lilia Vu shot a 74 Saturday and was well back at 3-over.

The South Korea tournament is the second of four in the LPGA Tour ’s Asian swing. Angel Yin, who shot 71 Saturday and is four strokes off the lead, won the LPGA Shanghai event last week.

The tour moves to Malaysia and Japan over the next two weeks.