To put it mildly, Soo Yun came out on fire and kept blistering the course most of the day. Her front nine was a thing of beauty. After a slow start, she birdied 4, 6, 8 and 9 to move to 9 under, only a couple of shots out of the lead. She kept hitting fairways and greens and putting pressure on the leaders. On the front she hit 6 of 9 greens, and all her fairways. On the back she would only miss two more greens and one fairway. With a birdie on 12 she moved to within one shot of the lead.

By now she was definitely getting noticed by the team covering the event, and not just for her usual sartorial splendor. Yes, she looked great in her peach colored outfit, but it was her game that was impressing them. Donna Caponi marveled at her beautiful swing. After the approach on 12, Val Skinner, who was following the group, said, 'Guys, she's playing really well. I think she can win this.' Another birdie on 14 moved her into a tie for the lead at 11 under (only briefly, because Candie Kung then hit a birdie to move to 12 under). Suddenly Val's prediction seemed like it just might come true.

Soo Yun chips in round 3

Soo Yun is having a ball in rd 3
Reuters/Jeff Topping

Meanwhile, Se Ri, who was not that far back, couldn't seem to buy a putt. Annika was having similar problems, but a suddenly hot putter enabled her to close to 9 under. Still, the player in the best position to topple Kung was now Soo Yun.

And just like that, the wheels came off. She missed the green, and was not able to get it up and down. The bogey knocked her down to 10 under, and when Kung moved to 13 under it looked to be all over. Soo Yun missed the green at 16 as well, but did get it up and down. There was slim hope she could rally, but it did exist. The 18th was a par 5, and if she could birdie that, she might have a chance. Kung had had a lot of trouble on that hole over the previous two days, including a double bogey on Thursday. But first came the 17th, a par 3. Soo Yun did her part by hitting a wonderful tee shot, but now it was all up to her putter. Unfortunately, she missed the short putt, and had to settle for par. She also parred the 18th as her approach with a wedge was not close enough. Which was a pity, because Kung DID have trouble on 18, shooting a bogey, and if Soo Yun had been able to birdie 17 and 18, she would have been tied with Kung at 12 under.

Still, Soo Yun announced in loud terms that she was a force to be reckoned with on tour. Her tie for second was her best finish by far on the LPGA, and earned her more money in one weekend than she had made in all her previous LPGA events combined. In fact, more than twice as much as she had previously made!

All the signs are pointing towards Soo Yun being ready to become a top 20, and maybe even a top 10, player on the LPGA this year. In four events she has risen to 18th on the money list. She has had bad rounds, but in almost every event she has played she has also had good rounds. And she has shown she does not wilt under pressure. It may not be too much longer before the Seoul Sisters welcome another star into the fold.