Yuka Saso leads Lydia Ko by 2 shots halfway through LPGA Lotte Championship
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Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Cheyenne Knight of the United States and Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand walk up to the 16th green during the second round.
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Yuka Saso of the Philippines plays a tee shot on the 13th hole during the second round.
Yuka Saso fired another 64 today at Kapolei Golf Club to lead the LPGA Lotte Championship at the midway point at 16-under par.
Lydia Ko is second at 14 under after she shot 9-under 63 in today’s second round.
Ko played in the morning, and in the afternoon Saso — who was first-round co-leader with Brittany Altomare — was 6 under after 10 holes to tie Ko.
Saso, a 19-year-old sponsor’s exemption who who already has two wins on the Japan LPGA tour, curled in a long putt on No. 16 for birdie to take the lead, and followed it up with another birdie on 17.
“Two more days, I’m trying to get used to it,” said Saso, who had not played at Kapolei before this week.
Ko, 23, has 15 career victories, but none since 2018. The former LPGA rookie of the year and player of the year made nine birdies in a bogey-free round today.
“Today I feel like I gave myself a lot of good opportunities for birdies,” Ko said. “Overall … between yesterday and today I feel like my game has been pretty solid. So hopefully I stick to my game plan and just keep hitting it confidently and with commitment and see where it takes me for the rest of the two days.”
Two-time defending champion Brooke Henderson is at 8-under heading into Friday’s third round, after shooting 68 for the second-consecutive day.
Amy Yang made the third hole-in-one of her LPGA tour career that started in 2008 on Thursday. She aced No. 12 from 143 yards with a 9-iron.
