You could say the rest of the Lotte Championship field has Sei Young Kim right where they want her.

In the tournament lead. 

Kim goes into the final round of the 72-hole event Saturday with a one-stroke edge over I.K. Kim at the Ko Olina Golf Club — and something to prove.

Because her history as a professional, however brief, suggests that when 22-year-old Sei Young Kim is out front she is most vulnerable. Conversely, when she is behind she is most dangerous.

As she put it after her 2-under 70 Friday, “You know, believe it or not, every tournament I have won in my career I was the chaser and coming from behind. So, I’m more used to that and more comfortable with that.”

Five times on the Korean Tour and once this year in her rookie year on the LPGA Tour, she has come from behind to win tournaments. 

Most notable was the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic in February, her second tournament as an LPGA member, where she came from two strokes back to win the title and stamp herself as a leading contender for rookie of the year. 

But coming from ahead is another story. An altogether forgettable one at the moment. Heavy on her mind and huge in the memory of her pursuers is that she lost a three-stroke lead in the ANA Inspiration earlier this month, shooting a final-round 75 to finish in a tie for fourth place.

She went birdie, bogey, bogey, birdie, double bogey, bogey, birdie, bogey and par over the final wind-blown nine holes and was overtaken by eventual winner Brittany Lincicome  at Rancho Mirage, Calif. 

So the challenge Saturday — very likely in the wind — is to seize a breakthrough victory. And, with the $270,000 winner’s check, the top place on the Tour’s money list. 

“For this particular moment right now, no, I don’t feel the pressure,” Sei Young Kim said, tightly gripping a water bottle in the interview tent. 

“Obviously, once I tee off (Saturday), I’m not sure what’s going to go through my mind. Because I put a lot of pressure on myself and I was under a lot of pressure last time at ANA, I think it’ll be much better and I will have a different experience (Saturday), I believe.”

Two of the six Kims in the field — Sei Young and I.K. — and Inbee Park are scheduled to go out at 12:05 p.m. in the final group.

With the tournament on the line, I.K. Kim said it isn’t about track record. “It all comes down to timing, really.”

For Sei Young, that means, time to prove something to herself and her peers. “Being able to be in the lead and close out the tournament is probably something that I need to overcome and learn moving forward. I look forward to doing that as well.”

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.