Korean golfer posts 3-under 67 despite three bogeys, sits at 12 under overall

Yun I-na three shots back in tie for sixth; Korda tied for ninth

Choi Hye-jin tees off on the fifth hole during the second round of The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]
Choi Hye-jin tees off on the fifth hole during the second round of The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]

Choi Hye-jin held her share of the lead for a second straight round at The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on the LPGA Tour, keeping her bid for a first career victory alive.

Choi carded a 3-under 67 on Saturday (Korean Standard Time) at Pelican Golf Club (par 70) in Belleair, Florida, with one eagle, four birdies and three bogeys. Having opened with a 9-under 61 to share the lead on Friday, she sits at 12 under par through 36 holes — tied atop the leaderboard with Carlota Ciganda of Spain and Lindy Duncan of the United States. The tournament carries a purse of $3.25 million.

Choi joined the LPGA Tour in 2022 but has yet to claim her first win. She arrives at this event in strong form, having finished runner-up at back-to-back tournaments last month — the Buick LPGA Shanghai in China and the BMW Ladies Championship in Haenam, South Korea — making her a compelling contender to break through this week.

Starting on the 10th hole, Choi struggled early. She made consecutive bogeys on her first two holes and finished the front nine — played as her back nine — with two birdies and three bogeys, dropping one shot overall.

She turned things around on the back nine. A birdie on the first hole (par 4) steadied her, and she picked up another on the sixth (par 4). Then on the seventh hole (par 5), she drained a 4-meter eagle putt to reignite her challenge at the top of the leaderboard.

Speaking in an official LPGA interview after her round, Choi said her second shot on the seventh hole had set up the eagle opportunity. "Yesterday, my second shot on No. 7 was well-struck and the ball rolled all the way to the green, and I made birdie with two putts," she said. "Today, the ball bounced in a good direction and rolled onto the green again, giving me a chance at a 4-meter eagle putt."

She added that wind was the key difference between the two rounds. "The biggest difference from yesterday was the wind. I struggled with it on the front nine, but things got better after that," she said. "I've had experience playing in the final group recently, so I'll stay focused on my own game for the remaining two rounds."

Yun I-na tees off on the ninth hole during the second round of The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]
Yun I-na tees off on the ninth hole during the second round of The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]

Japan's Saigo Mao and Katsu Minami are tied for fourth at 10 under par through 36 holes, two shots off the lead.

Yun I-na remained in contention as well. After opening with a 6-under 64 on Friday, Yun added three more birdies Saturday to move to 9 under overall and into a tie for sixth at 131. She slipped one spot from her share of fifth on Friday, but sits just three shots off the lead.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States, returning to competition for the first time in roughly two months, managed only one birdie for a 1-under 69. She is tied for ninth at 8 under par through two rounds.

Im Jin-hee, Ko Jin-young, Ryu Hae-ran, Kim A-rim and Kang Min-ji are all tied for 31st at 4 under par through 36 holes.


yjc@heraldcorp.com