Yu Hai-ran plays her shot during the second round of the LPGA Tour's Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club (par 71) in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Friday (local time). [AFP]
Yu Hai-ran plays her shot during the second round of the LPGA Tour's Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club (par 71) in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Friday (local time). [AFP]

Yu Hai-ran remained in a share of third place after the second round of the Evian Championship — the fourth women's major of the season, with a purse of $9.1 million — keeping her bid for consecutive major titles alive.

Yu carded a 3-under-par 68 on Friday (local time) at Evian Resort Golf Club (par 71) in Evian-les-Bains, France, posting one eagle, three birdies and two bogeys.

After opening with a 5-under 66 to share third place in round one, Yu sits at 8-under 134 through 36 holes. England's Lottie Woad, who seized sole possession of the lead at 11-under 131, holds a three-stroke advantage over Yu.

Yu claimed her first major title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship late last month, her fourth LPGA Tour victory overall, and is now seeking to win back-to-back majors.

Starting on the first hole, Yu stumbled early with a bogey on the par-4 fourth, but steadied herself with back-to-back birdies on the par-5 ninth and par-3 10th. On the par-5 15th, her second shot stopped just short of the green, but she rolled in the putt from off the putting surface for an eagle.

A bogey on the par-4 17th threatened to undo her momentum, but Yu bounced back with a closing birdie on the par-5 18th.

"The greens were a little slower than yesterday, so I missed a lot of chances," Yu said. "I hope I can play better tomorrow than today." She added: "In a major, it's important to play safe, protect the green and make pars rather than forcing birdies."

Woad, a former world amateur No. 1 who has one LPGA Tour win each from last year and this year, fired a 7-under round on Friday to move into sole possession of the lead and set her sights on a first major title.

First-round leader Iwai Akie of Japan managed only a 2-under round and slipped to second place, one stroke back at 10-under 132.

World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand sits in a share of fifth at 6-under 136, while Im Jin-hee is tied for ninth at 5-under 137. Yang Hee-young and Lee So-mi are tied for 18th at 4-under 138.

Yun I-na, Kim Sei-young and Joo Su-bin are tied for 23rd at 3-under 139, while Kim A-lim and Choi Hye-jin made the cut in a share of 38th at 2-under 140.

Kim Hyo-joo, the 2014 Evian champion and current world No. 3, scraped through the cut in a share of 57th at even-par 142, as did high school amateur Yang Yun-seo, also tied for 57th.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States carded a 2-under round on Friday but finished at 1-over 143, tied for 67th and one stroke outside the cut line. It was the first time Korda had missed the cut in an LPGA Tour event since the Women's PGA Championship in June 2024.


yjc@heraldcorp.com