South Korea’s Hwang You-min fired a career-best 10-under 62 to seize a three-shot lead on Thursday after 36 holes of the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii.
The 22-year-old, playing on a sponsor’s invitation, produced the lowest round since the event moved to Hoakalei Country Club four years ago. Her score lifted her to a 15-under total.
Teeing off in the final group on the 1st, Hwang opened eagle-birdie, dropped a shot at the 4th, then reeled off eight more birdies, including four in her final five holes, to overtake overnight leader Akie Iwai of Japan and American Jessica Porvasnik.
Iwai carded a four-under 68 and Porvasnik shot 65 to share second on 12 under, two strokes clear of Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who both posted 69 for 10 under.
“First of all, I broke my life-best score,” Hwang said. “At the same time, I broke the course record, so I feel very good. Tee to green, especially my iron shot, was perfect. I just felt right for every club I played for the second shot. My putting I thought was perfect.”
Competing in the event for the third time, Hwang admitted she is feeling added pressure ahead of LPGA Tour qualifying.
“I feel nervous, at the same time very excited,” she said.
Iwai noted that afternoon conditions differed from the morning session when she shot 64 on Wednesday. She opened with three straight birdies and, after a bogey at the 4th, added just two more on the way in.
“I felt a little difference, specifically on the greens,” she said. “It was getting hard to see the line.”
She once again played alongside her twin sister Chisato, who posted a 66 for a share of eighth on eight under. That group also included world No 2 Nelly Korda, who carded a five-under 67.
“I would say the main difference between today and yesterday was just the putts dropped,” Korda said. “It was a little gustier out there today versus yesterday, so it was fun to play in, kind of show my creative side.”
Paula Reto, the only South African in the field, carded one-under 71 to share 21st position on five under.
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Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
Article Link: Korea's Hwang storms into Hawaii LPGA lead