(Photo credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images)
Ina Yoon of South Korea shot a 3-under-par 69 on Friday and watched her lead on the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship balloon to 5 strokes at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.
Yoon entered the second spherical with a two-shot lead on Australia’s Karis Davidson after opening with a 63. But Davidson struggled to a second-round 74 and different gamers who had been within the prime 10 additionally faltered, making a chasm between Yoon (12-under 132) and the sphere on the midway mark.
Yoon’s countrywoman Haeran Ryu shot an 8-under 64 — the spherical of the day by a whopping three pictures — and climbed right into a tie for second at 7 below. She’s joined there by Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson (68), A Lim Kim of South Korea (70) and Nasa Hataoka of Japan (67).
One stroke behind that group sits World No. 1 Nelly Korda, aiming to turn out to be the third girl to win the primary three majors of the season after her triumphs on the Chevron Championship and U.S. Women’s Open. Korda posted 68 Friday and is tied at 6 below with South Korea’s Dongeun Lee (69).
But they’re all wanting up at Yoon, 23, who has but to win on the LPGA Tour after becoming a member of final yr.
‘This is definitely my first time being lead going into the weekend,’ Yoon mentioned. ‘It’s truly very nice expertise for me. I’m so excited to play final two extra days.’
Yoon reached 13 below for the event rapidly by birdieing Nos. 3, 4, 6 and eight. She performed the again 9 of her spherical in 1 over par, however she was nonetheless left with a cushty cushion as nobody got here near her on the leaderboard.
‘The remaining two days will clearly be nerve-wracking, however being nervous is human nature, and I believe I need to embrace that and give attention to what I can in my pictures,’ Yoon mentioned.
Ryu saved a bogey-free card and made her eight birdies in a single 11-hole stretch. After beginning her spherical on the again 9, she received going with birdies at Nos. 14, 16, 17 and 18. Her 4 birdies coming in included a 13 1/2-foot putt on the second, a 23-footer on the third and an 18 1/2-footer on the par-3 fourth.
‘Yesterday I attempted to vary my putter as a result of it is — typically I miss a brief putt my outdated putter,’ mentioned Ryu, who has gained 3 times on the LPGA Tour. ‘That’s why I attempt to change it; it is nonetheless dangerous.
‘Today I used identical putter as Kroger Championship a month in the past, so I felt it is so nice and I could make quite a lot of birdies at present.’
Henderson is 10 years faraway from profitable the primary of her two majors on the Women’s PGA. She finds herself within the combine after ending her spherical with three straight birdies at Nos. 7-9.
‘Nice to get three to complete. That actually makes the spherical really feel entire lot higher,’ mentioned Henderson, who’s gained only one event since January 2023. ‘It’s enjoyable to see my title on the leaderboard once more and so hopefully have a very good weekend. Really wanting ahead to it.’
As for Korda, she additionally started her day on the again 9 and made a promising early transfer with 4 birdies from Nos. 10-18. Her lone bogey got here at No. 1, and after getting the stroke again with a birdie on the par-5 third, she may solely make pars the remainder of the best way.
‘The entrance 9 was nice, shot 4 below, after which had a case of the hooks on a couple of of my tee pictures on the again 9,’ she mentioned. ‘Figured it out taking place the stretch, so happy with my day.’
The minimize line fell at 1 over par. Defending champion Minjee Lee of Australia, England’s Charley Hull and Australian Hannah Green — the winner in 2019 when the main was final held at Hazeltine — all missed the minimize by one shot.
–Field Level Media