Choi Hye-jin holds LPGA Shanghai lead for second straight day despite putting woes

Sits at 6 under par after dropping 2 shots in Round 2

'Not in perfect shape, but I really want my first win'

Choi Hye-jin watches her tee shot on the sixth hole during the second round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai at Seosan Golf Club in Shanghai, China, on Friday. [Getty Images]

Choi Hye-jin held on to the lead at the Buick LPGA Shanghai for a second consecutive day Friday, despite a putting performance that cost her strokes throughout the round. The tournament carries a purse of $3.2 million.

Choi carded two birdies and four bogeys for a 2-over-par 74 at Seosan Golf Club (par 72) in Shanghai, China. After opening with an 8-under-par 64 to take sole possession of the lead Thursday, she sits at 6 under par 138, two strokes clear of the group tied for second.

Her ball-striking was relatively steady — she missed only one fairway and three greens in regulation — but 38 putts on the day made it difficult to post a lower score.

That was a sharp contrast to Thursday, when she needed just 22 putts on her way to an 8-under round. The 16-putt increase cost her a stroke on the front nine and another on the par-4 11th hole on the back nine.

"I made mistakes on the front nine and couldn't save par when I needed to," Choi said after her round. "That made the next shot feel even harder. Overall, it was a tough day."

She added that she intends to carry the same mindset into the weekend. "I'm not in perfect shape, but I'm still holding the lead," she said. "I want to play the last two rounds the same way I played the first two. I really want to get my first win."

Yang Hee-young tees off on the second hole during the second round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai at Seosan Golf Club in Shanghai, China, on Friday. [Getty Images]

Choi, who made her LPGA Tour debut in 2022, is making her 124th career start this week. She has 12 wins on the KLPGA Tour but remains without a victory in the United States, despite finishing runner-up four times and cracking the top 10 on 33 occasions. Entering the tournament, her career LPGA Tour earnings stood at $7,231,117 — the most among players who have yet to win on tour.

Yang Hee-young, a six-time LPGA Tour winner, shot a 1-under-par 71 with four birdies and three bogeys. She is tied for second at 4 under par 140 alongside Grace Kim of Australia, two strokes behind Choi.

World No. 2 and defending champion Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand sits tied for seventh at 2 under par 142.

yjc@heraldcorp.com