Lotte Championship Day 2: Lydia Ko 2nd, Kim Sei-young Tied 10th, Henderson Tied 16th, Park In-bi Tied 20th
Kim Hyo-joo surged with a 7-under par on the second day of the Lotte Championship, joining the race for the title.
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) is making a leap into the leading group.
On the 16th (Korean time), at the Kapolei Golf Club (par 72, 6,397 yards) on Oahu Island, Hawaii, USA, during the second day of the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship (total prize money $2 million), she surged with a 7-under-par round to climb to a tie for 3rd place (11-under-par 133 strokes). Yuka Saso (Philippines) maintained her position at the top of the leaderboard for the second consecutive day (16-under-par 128 strokes), while Lydia Ko (New Zealand) is chasing in 2nd place, 2 strokes behind (14-under-par 130 strokes).
Starting from a tie for 14th place, 4 strokes behind, Kim Hyo-joo collected 1 eagle and 6 birdies (with 1 bogey). After consecutive birdies on holes 2 and 3, she made a bogey on hole 4 (par 4) but immediately recovered with a birdie on hole 5 (par 3). She added birdies on holes 9, 11, and 14, then made an eagle on hole 17 (par 5). She missed the fairway only twice and recorded 26 putts during the round. She is 5 strokes behind the leader and is in a position to aim for her 4th career win since her victory at the 2016 Pure Silk Bahamas Classic.
Saso is hoping for her first career win after shooting 8-under-par. Lydia Ko entered the competition for the title with a daily best 9-under-par round. Yoo So-yeon (31, Mediheal) added 4-under-par and is looking for an opportunity in a tie for 3rd place. Nelly Korda (USA) is also in this group. Kim A-rim (26, SBI Savings Bank) shot 8-under-par to quickly rise to a tie for 7th place (10-under-par 134 strokes). Lexi Thompson (USA) is tied for 10th place (9-under-par 135 strokes).
Kim Se-young (28, Mediheal) and Lee Mi-hyang (28, Volvik) also joined the group tied for 10th place. Two-time champion in 2018 and 2019, Brooke Henderson (Canada), along with Stacy Lewis (USA) and others, are tied for 16th place (8-under-par 136 strokes). “Golf Queen” Park In-bee (33) shot 6-under-par and is tied for 20th place (7-under-par 137 strokes) with Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) and Yang Hee-young (32, Woori Financial Group). Lee Jeong-eun 6 (25, Daebang Construction) barely advanced to the 3rd round, tied for 60th place (3-under-par 141 strokes).
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