Australian Grace Kim has fashioned another back-nine surge to remain right in the mix in second place halfway through the Evian Championship, while Minjee Lee’s hopes of another major title have taken a hit.
Kim rolled in three birdies in her last eight holes in a 3-under-par 68 to briefly claim the clubhouse lead at women’s golf’s fourth major of the year in France.
And after holding a share of the first-round lead, the 24-year-old Sydney star ended Friday just one shot behind South Korean pacesetter So-mi Lee, who posted a second-straight 66 to soar to 10-under.
“We were first off at seven so it was an early start, but I wanted to make sure I took advantage of that tee time. It’s nice to be done before midday,” Kim said of her morning charge.
“I just knew how much this course can really sting you, so I just played fairways and greens. Had a few putts more than yesterday but just kept it simple and it kind of worked out today.”
Just two weeks after snaring a third career major at the Women’s PGA Championship in Texas, Perth’s Lee had been expecting to kick on after her brilliant opening 66.
But a woeful start with bogeys at the first three holes and a double bogey at the sixth meant she had to play catch-up.
She did so pretty spectacularly, recording six birdies over her last dozen holes, but she could still only end with an even-par 71 that dropped her down among the chasing pack.
Lee is now five shots behind her namesake in a tie for 12th, alongside world number one Nelly Korda (70) and four others, including top-ranked English amateur Lottie Woad (69).
Australian Gabi Ruffels, one of the five first-round joint leaders at 6-under, could not make any progress as she shot a 71 to remain at 6-under, now four off the pace.
Leader Lee nabbed six birdies and an eagle in a superb second round to set a cracking pace at the postcard perfect golf club nestled between Lake Geneva and the Alps.
She is coming off her first LPGA Tour win at the Dow Championship team event last month with Jin-hee Im, and is in a confident mood.
“I think, first, this course is so beautiful but, you know, the green is so tricky, so I’m just practising distance,” Lee said.
“I’m just focused on distance. Miss left, miss right, never mind. Just distance.”
AAP
