South Korean professional golfer Jenny Shin kept her commanding five‑stroke advantage after the third round of the Women’s Scottish Open, edging ever closer to a long‑awaited LPGA Tour triumph. The win would mark her first tour title since the Texas Shootout more than a decade ago, ending a drought that has stretched beyond ten years.
Shin entered the final day with the lead established at the turn of the 18‑hole round. She posted a solid 71, one under par, on Saturday’s third day, which left her at 12 under for the tournament.
Her nearest challenger, Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn, posted a flawless 69—no bogeys—to climb from fourth place into second, but remained five strokes behind Shin. Japan’s Erika Hara, also carding a 71, and Germany’s Esther Henseleit, who shot a 73, were tied for third at five under par, two shots off the lead. Korea’s A Lim Kim sat in fifth place at three under, while Japan’s Miyu Yamashita and 2024 champion Lauren Coughlin trailed by another stroke.
When asked about her performance, Shin described the round as “very tough” and admitted she felt “quite nervous for the first five holes.” She was relieved to finish the day in the red numbers, noting the round felt both “boring and nerve‑wracking.” A mishap on the 10th hole forced her to revert to an older setup despite having adjusted her stance earlier in the week to cope with the windy conditions. "I shut the face, I knew what I was doing, so I was able to get back into it pretty easily," she explained. Shin emphasized that her strategy hinged on hitting the fairways and creating opportunities to attack the greens. "I have a pretty decent short game, so I wasn’t too worried when I missed the green because I did it in the right spots," she said, underscoring the confidence she has in her wedge play and putting.
Looking ahead to the final round, Shin confessed she had never held a five‑stroke lead before and was unsure how to manage the pressure. "I’m going to go and practice for a little bit and get a good feel for tomorrow so I’m not such a mess in the morning," she said.
She reflected on her first putt of the day, noting she wasn’t sure what she was looking at, but hoped the experience of dealing with nerves on the front nine would serve her well on Sunday. Solheim Cup veteran Esther Henseleit offered her perspective on the tournament’s difficulty, saying, "It’s been playing tough all week. I feel like on those first two holes I got a bit unlucky with my lies.
I had to accept that bogey, and then I played pretty good after. I didn’t really hit it very close today, so didn’t have many birdie chances, but I managed to get a couple on the back nine." The ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open will conclude on Sunday with the final round broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports+.
Golf fans can also stream the action through NOW, and a Sky Sports Golf podcast provides additional commentary and analysis. For those interested in playing the courses featured on the tour, Sky Sports offers a booking service that covers over 1,700 venues across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Jenny Shin’s resurgence is a compelling storyline for the LPGA Tour, illustrating how perseverance and incremental improvements can eventually break through a long‑standing barrier. Her ability to stay composed under the weight of a sizable lead, adapt to challenging weather, and rely on a well‑honed short game demonstrates the qualities required to win at the highest level. If she can translate the confidence gained from this third‑round performance into a steady final‑day round, Shin could very well end her title drought and add a new chapter to her career.
The final round will test not only Shin’s skill but also her mental fortitude. Maintaining a five‑stroke cushion demands disciplined shot selection, steady putting, and the ability to shrug off any lingering nerves.
Meanwhile, her closest rivals, especially Anannarukarn, will be looking to capitalize on any slip‑ups, aiming to narrow the gap with aggressive play on the back nine. Beyond the individual battle, the tournament highlights the growing international depth of women’s golf. Players from South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Germany, and the United States are all in contention, reflecting the sport’s global reach and the competitive parity that makes each event unpredictable and exciting. As the sun rises on Sunday, spectators worldwide will be watching to see if Jenny Shin can convert her lead into a historic victory, securing her first LPGA title in more than ten years and cementing her place among the elite players on the tour.