Choi takes one-shot Shanghai lead into final round after a 69

Hye-Jin Choi shot a 3-under 69 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Amy Yang into the final round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai. Choi has led after each completed round at Sheshan Golf Club and stands at 9-under 207 through 54 holes.

Yang returned a 68 to reach 8 under, while Ruoning Yin’s 67 put her third at 7 under. Choi had reached 10 under through 12 holes before finishing the round at 9 under.

Choi made four birdies on the front nine Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Her 69 followed an opening 64 and a difficult second-round 74.

Yang has recorded 69, 71 and 68 for a 208 total. Yin opened with 68, slipped to 74 Friday and recovered with Saturday’s five-under round.

Friday’s second round

Choi had retained a two-shot lead despite her 74 Friday. Yang was among the players who gained ground that day, shooting 71 after an opening 69. The second-round video below shows that earlier stage of the tournament; Saturday’s completed third round has since reduced Choi’s advantage to one.

Where the contenders stand after 54 holes

Rio Takeda and Carlota Ciganda are tied for fourth at 4-under 212. Both shot 71 Saturday, with Takeda following rounds of 68 and 73 and Ciganda following 67 and 74. They begin Sunday five strokes behind Choi.

Alison Lee is sixth at 2-under 214 after a 67. Grace Kim and Yuli Shi are tied at 1 under. Kim shot 75 in the third round, while Shi returned 71. Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul’s 74 left her at even par for the tournament.

Sunday’s final round

Choi is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory after 12 wins in South Korea, according to the Associated Press. She will have to protect a smaller advantage than the three-stroke lead she held after the first round or the two-shot margin she carried into Saturday.

For viewers in the United States, the final round begins on television late Saturday night. Golf Channel and GC mobile list live coverage from 10 p.m. Eastern on October 17 through 3 a.m. Sunday. The tournament’s $3.2 million purse is followed by the next stop of the Asian swing in South Korea.

LPGA leaderboard · Associated Press third-round report · Golf Channel viewing schedule