Kim and Choi Grasp Dow Championship Lead Heading Into Sunday

The third round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club proved to be a grueling test of patience and teamwork. Shifting back to the alternate-shot foursomes format, the LPGA's only team event saw the leaderboard tighten as swirling winds exposed even minor mistakes. Amid the challenging conditions, the South Korean pairing of Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi carded a 1-under 69 to reach 10-under 200, securing a slim one-stroke lead heading into Sunday's final round.

Weathering the Wind at Midland

Saturday's round was less about chasing birdies and more about avoiding costly errors. Only six teams managed to break par on the day. Kim and Choi, competing under the team name Team Lotte, relied on their steady play to navigate the elements, recording four birdies against three bogeys. "The wind was obviously very strong today so that was a big factor that was different than the first round," Kim noted after the round. The duo previously shot a 69 in the opening round's foursomes.

Right on their heels are Gina Kim and LPGA rookie Yana Wilson, who sit just one shot back at 9-under. Wilson and Kim capped their third-round 70 with a crucial birdie on the par-3 18th hole, which played downwind over water to a front pin. Meanwhile, former UCLA teammates Alison Lee and Lilia Vu were firmly in contention for the lead before a disastrous triple bogey on the par-4 16th derailed their momentum.

Korda Falter Opens the Door

The difficult alternate-shot format also took its toll on pre-tournament favorites. Double major winner Nelly Korda and her partner Olivia Cowan struggled to find any rhythm, carding a 6-over 76. The pair managed just a single birdie and suffered bogeys on both par-5 holes, falling six strokes off the pace into a tie for 13th. This marks only the second time during the 2026 LPGA season that Korda will not play in the final group on Sunday.

With the tournament shifting back to the more aggressive fourballs (best ball) format for Sunday's finale, the leaderboard remains highly volatile. Kim and Choi, both ranked inside the top 20 of the women's world rankings, hold the advantage, but the format change promises plenty of low scores and potential shifts. For live bettors, the final round presents a compelling dynamic as the chasing pack attempts to hunt down the steady South Korean leaders in Michigan.