The defending champion, South Korea’s Park Inbee, was at three-under after dropping three shots on her opening four holes while New Zealand’s world No 1, Lydia Ko, fell nine shots behind the leaders after a two-over 74 that included a double bogey on her opening hole.
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Jang shot to the top of the leaderboard after shooting four birdies and an eagle on the par-five seventh, before Lee joined her at the top.
Jang was sublime on the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, firing the lowest round of the day, a six-under 66. Kept trying, trying, and the 11th-hole birdie made good momentum.
Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum knocked in six birdies in her 68 to end the third round in outright second at 11 under, one clear of the South Korean pair of Amy Yang and Mirim Lee.
And, in January, she became the first LPGA golfer to make a hole-in-one on a par-four – the 218-yard eighth hole during the third round of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Jang claimed her first LPGA title at the Coates Golf Championship in Florida last month, backed it up with two top-10 finishes and continued to pepper the flag with her approach shots on Friday to give herself plenty of birdie opportunities.
“I was very comfortable on the front nine”, said Jang.
Jang Ha Na of South Korea celebrates after sinking a shot on the 9th green during the final round of the HSBC Women’s Champions Golf tournament on Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Singapore. “But now I can see like really, really clearly”. “I’ll just keep it simple tomorrow, the same as I have been doing every day and that is not to think too much because I know how to play and score”.
The joint overnight leaders, Koahsiung-born veteran Candie Kung and Australian teenager Minjee Lee both finished strongly after mixed rounds to remain in contention.
She said: “I’m going to enjoy playing tomorrow with Pornanong because she is my close friend”.
The 23-year old Jang is in only her second year on the LPGA Tour and looking for her second win of the season.
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“I’m not going to think about another player and her score”. A second win so early in the season would further boost Jang, who finished fourth previous year in the rookie standings, up the Rolex Rankings.
