Birdie sweep gives Grace Kim a 5-stroke lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grace Kim split Saturday afternoon at Blythefield Country Club, birdying four of six holes to take a 5-stroke lead in the final round of the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Tied for the lead in the second round with Ally Ewing, Kim shot a 6-under 66 to move to 17-under 199. The 23-year-old Australian won last year’s playoff in Hawai’i for his only major – LPGA Tour. He lost a big lead in April in Los Angeles at the JM Eagle LA Championship.

“If I give myself another chance, I think, do it again and do it,” Kim said. “I know I will try my best tomorrow and everyone else will. This golf course calls for a lot of birdies, and there are a lot of good players here.”

Ewing followed her second-round 63 with a 71 to tie for second with Lexi Thompson, Anna Nordqvist, Allisen Corpuz and Narin An.

“It was a little bit of a struggle today,” Ewing said. “I made some really good putts just to get in early.”

Thompson, the 2015 winner who said this would be his last year playing a full schedule, carded six of the final nine holes in 7-under 65. He has gone more than five years without a win.

“I just went into the hole,” Thompson said. “This is a golf course you know you have to come out and play aggressively and make a lot of birdies. You just came out very relaxed, made a few good swings and rolled in some putts.”

Nordqvist also shot 65. Corpuz had a 68, and An shot 69.

Kim had three straight birdies on the front nine on Nos. 5-7, dropped a stroke on the 5th 10th and then birdied the par-3 13th, par-5 14th, par-4 16th and par-5 18th.

“Obviously I finished very strong, so I hope I can continue that,” said Kim. “Have a nice dinner. Watched a movie yesterday. That probably helped a little. Maybe do that again tonight and see. New for tomorrow.”

Lilia Vu, the former No. 1 player and two-time winner last year, was tied for 14th at 9 under in her return from a back injury that sidelined her since the Ford Championship in late March. He shot 68.

Brooke Henderson, a Canadian who won the event in 2017 and 2019, shot a 73 to tie for 24th at 7 under. Defending champion Leona Maguire is tied for 57th at 3 under after a 72.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda withdrew on Friday after missing her second straight streak following six wins in seven matches. He won at Blythefield in 2021 in a tournament-record 25 under.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is next week at Sahalee outside Seattle.