TARZANA, California — World No 10 Sei Young Kim of South Korea carded a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 and took a one-shot lead after two rounds at the Eagle LA golf Championship in California.
Kim sits at 14-under 130 at El-Caballero Country Club, just ahead of first-round leader Chizzy Iwai of Japan. Coming off a course-record-tying 63, Iwai carded a 68, leaving her at 13 under, Reuters reported.
South Korea’s Ina Yoon holds third place at 12 under following a 64. Tied for fourth at 9 under are Melanie Green and South Korea’s Jin Hee Im, who each shot 68, and Jessica Porvasnik, who logged a 69.
Jenny Bae (second-round 68), Japan’s Minami Katsu (69), Australia’s Hannah Green (69) and Thailand’s Suvichaya Vinijchaitham (71) are level at 8 under, tied for seventh.
Kim birdied two of the first three holes and was 2 under at the turn. She then reeled off five birdies in a seven-hole span on the back nine.
Kim owns 13 career LPGA victories, but just one in the past six years, at the BMW Ladies Championship last October.
“This course (offers) a lot of the opportunity if you play well, so I think some players or couple players (will) play good and we’ll see, yeah, what’s going on,” Kim said. “Yeah, (I) like my position so I just want to keep (moving) forward (the) next two days.”
Iwai had another good round, albeit nowhere near as good as her first-round 63. She had two birdies and one bogey through the first 12 holes, then added three birdies in a four-hole stretch starting at No 13.
“My front nine, I didn’t make … short birdie putts, but my driver and my second shot was all consistent, my swing,” Iwai said. “Yeah, my shot is pretty good.”
Yoon charged into contention with a sizzling start to her round, making seven birdies and two pars on the back nine. She then played the front nine and cooled off, adding only one more birdie in a bogey-free day.
“First nine holes was awesome,” Yoon said. “I never shoot 29 for nine hole in my life. It was unbelievable.
“The back nine was little bummer, but I had pretty good shot on the back nine as well. Some tricky putts on there. I made some. But it was good overall.”
