South Korea’s Ko Jin-young maintained her three-shot lead with four holes to play on Friday as darkness halted play in the fog-hit LPGA Founders Cup.
The world No 2 had matched her career-low round with an eight-under-par 63 on Thursday that gave her a three-shot edge over Germany’s Sandra Gal when darkness fell on the opening day at Mountain Ridge Country Club in New Jersey.
On Friday, when dense morning fog caused another delay of more than two hours, she had a bogey and three birdies in her first 14 holes and at 10 under par was three ahead of three players on seven under.
Ko teed off on 10 and followed a bogey at the 17th with birdies at 18, 2 and 3.
“On the front nine, I had a lot of missed shots but I made a lot of good saves, so it’s fine,” Ko said. “I had a lot of good opportunities for birdies and left four holes for tomorrow.
“I will just take a rest tonight and then I will get better for tomorrow.”
American Lindsey Weaver was in the clubhouse on seven under 135.
She played in the only afternoon group to finish the second round and after hurrying to her final hole, the 9th, she finished with a bogey that capped a four-under-par 67.
“Literally nothing is more important [than finishing],” she said. “I was telling my caddie, I would hate to be playing No 9 at 7am tomorrow morning.
“I’m happy to be done, even though I made bogey on it. I’m just happy I don’t have to wake up at 5am tomorrow. I’m good. I’m happy with it.”
On the course, former world No 1 Ryu So-yeon was seven under for the tournament with four holes to play and France’s Perrine Delacour was seven under with seven holes remaining.
China’s Lin Xiyu and South Koreans Chella Choi and Jenny Shin were in the clubhouse on six under 136, with South Korea’s Chun In-gee six under through 12 holes.
Choi carded a three-under-par 68, setting aside the wedding planning that is taking up much of her time these days.
“I played pretty good today,” Choi said. “Yesterday I was pretty good. Had a lot of good shots. But today when I started my round, my shots were not good, but I made some really good pars so that’s why I played good today.”
Choi said the approach of her wedding in December had given her a fresh perspective on her game and career, which is making her happier on the course as well as off.
“You know, for the last 20 years I just played golf, but right now I’m trying to make plans for the wedding so I’m very excited,” she said. “I talk with my boyfriend about my golf game and everything in my life, too. So, I’m really good right now.”
The greens at the @LPGAfounders are pure 🤩
Check out some of the top putts from Friday in New Jersey 👇 pic.twitter.com/c06ZECjQtP
— LPGA (@LPGA) October 8, 2021
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
