Somi Lee carded a 6-under 65 Friday to seize a one-shot lead on the Evian Championship, the fourth of this season’s 5 LPGA Tour majors.
Lee, of South Korea, eagled the par-5 ninth gap on the Evian Resort Golf Membership in Evian-les-Bains, France, to associate with six birdies and two bogeys to get to 10-under general.
Lee is coming off her first LPGA Tour win on the Dow Championship crew occasion final month with Jin Hee Im.
“I believe, first, this course is so stunning, however you realize, the inexperienced is so difficult, so I am simply (practising) distance,” Lee mentioned. “I am simply (targeted) on distance. Miss left, miss proper, by no means thoughts. Simply distance — is it good.”
Australia’s Grace Kim, one in all 5 first-round co-leaders, is in solo second at 9-under after capturing a 68 on Friday. American Jennifer Kupcho is in third at 8-under after an eventful 69 that included seven birdies and 5 bogeys.
“Been making a variety of putts and placing effectively,” Kupcho mentioned. “I believe it is simply sort of rolling, seeing the traces effectively. Really feel like I have been right here sufficient instances that I am beginning to study the greens a little bit bit, in order that helps.”
South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi (68), South Africa’s Casandra Alexander (68) and American Andrea Lee (70) are tied for fourth.
“It was a little bit of a tricky day on the market. Wasn’t essentially the most tidy scorecard or tidy golf I’ve had. Did not hit it one of the best off the tee,” Alexander mentioned. “However I believe I made one thing nice out of not-such-a-great scenario. Had a variety of good up and downs and placing has been actually good.”
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul is tied for seventh after a second straight spherical of 68.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the U.S. is a part of a bunch tied for twelfth at 5-under. Her second-round 70 included a double-bogey on the par-3 sixteenth gap and an eagle on the par-5 18th, the place she holed a double-breaking putt from about 30 toes.
High-ranked novice Lottie Woad of England is tied with Korda after a 2-under 69.
“There was a number of tucked pins immediately and I hit it very well the previous couple of days,” Woad mentioned. “Perhaps might have holed a number of extra putts, but when I can repair that over the weekend, if I can preserve hitting it effectively, it will be good.”
Defending champion Ayaka Furue of Japan is tied for twenty sixth at 3-under.
Amongst these lacking the reduce at 2-over-par had been U.S. Ladies’s Open champion Maja Stark, world No. 3 Lydia Ko and No. 4 Ruoning Yin.
–Discipline Degree Media