Staff WriterMiranda Wang is making the FM Championship her personal playground. The 25-year-old rookie from China fired her way into the history books on Saturday, posting a career-low 54-hole score of 198 to grab the outright lead at -18. It’s not only her best tally to date but also a new 54-hole scoring record for the FM Championship.
“I did a good job today. I really want to give myself some credit,” Wang said afterward, sounding like someone who’d finally realised she’d found the keys to the kingdom.
“This is where like all the players want to be, so it’s definitely special going into the final round being the sole leader. This is what we try to do every week, so I’m just happy that I did my job really well. I hope to continue doing what I did today.”
Wang’s numbers tell the story
Wang’s round was the golfing equivalent of a masterclass: seven birdies for the second straight day, three of them in a row on Nos. 6, 7, and 8. She hit 12 of 14 fairways, found 13 greens, and needed just 24 putts.
Across the three rounds, she’s rolled in only 77 putts — the fewest of anyone in the field. Not bad for someone who’s never led before after three rounds on the LPGA Tour.
The Duke alum, ranked No. 187 in the Rolex Rankings, is chasing not only her first Tour title but also a place in history. A win here would make her the 11th Rolex First-Time Winner of 2025, the seventh rookie to snag a trophy this season, and the first Chinese player to win on Tour since Ruoning Yin at the 2024 Maybank Championship. It would also make her a millionaire overnight, with the winner’s cheque of $615,000 taking her career earnings past the seven-figure mark.
Zhang and Kim lurking at -15
Of course, Sunday won’t be a coronation. Two heavyweights are breathing down Wang’s neck at -15: Rose Zhang and Sei Young Kim.
Zhang, the 21-year-old American who has already proven herself to be the LPGA’s future (and, frankly, its present), shot a smooth 67 with six birdies. “I think honestly it’s been a while since I’ve been in contention, so I’m very, very grateful,” she said. “Regardless of what the results are, I’m just going to be doing my thing, trying to stay as composed and consistent as possible.”
Kim, meanwhile, stumbled with three bogeys but still clawed out a 70 thanks to her trademark grit. She set the tournament’s 36-hole scoring record with a blistering 130 earlier this week and is chasing her first win since 2020.
“When I standing on last hole already dark…temperature a little drop, so it’s ten yards short,” she explained with a shrug. “Yeah, not enough. So I just layup and then make the birdie, but good result.”
For Zhang, a win would be her third on the LPGA Tour, while Kim would notch her 13th and push her career earnings past $15 million. Either way, Wang is going to have to earn it.
The chasing pack
Behind them, Andrea Lee and Jeeno Thitikul sit at -14, with Kumkang Park at -13 after torching the course with an eight-under 64 that included her first-ever eagle on Tour.
Defending champion Haeran Ryu has struggled to recapture last year’s magic, slipping to T23 alongside FM Ambassador Megan Khang.
Khang, who carded a 69 with five birdies, is hoping to improve on her four rounds in the 70s at last year’s FM Championship.
Records tumbling
The FM Championship has turned into a record-smashing spectacle. Haeran Ryu still holds the 18-hole mark with her 62 in 2024, but Sei Young Kim’s 36-hole 130 and Wang’s new 54-hole benchmark show just how hot the scoring has been this week.
The tournament’s 72-hole record of 273 — shared by Ryu and Jin Young Ko — is suddenly under serious threat.
What’s at stake on Sunday
- Miranda Wang: A first career win, first Chinese champion since 2024, millionaire status, and a new name etched into LPGA history.
- Rose Zhang: A third LPGA victory, crossing $3 million in career earnings, and another step toward becoming America’s next superstar.
- Sei Young Kim: A 13th Tour title, her first in five years, and a reminder that she still belongs in the conversation.
For Wang, Sunday could be the day she goes from rookie to record-breaker to Rolex First-Time Winner.
For Zhang and Kim, it’s a chance to remind the world they’re not done collecting trophies. And for the rest of us, it promises to be one heck of a final round at the FM Championship.
