Jo Ah-yeon's Leap "Tied 3rd, 3 Strokes Behind"... Saxstrom Leads for Two Days

Big Open Day 2: 6-Under Surge, Lee Jeong-eun 6 and Choi Hye-jin Tied 11th, Park In-bi Tied 48th

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the leap of Jo Ah-yeon (20, photo), the 'KLPGA Rookie of the Year.'

On the 7th (Korean time), at the ISPS Handa Vic Open (total prize money $1.1 million) of the US Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour, held at the Thirteenth Beach Golf Links Beach Course (par 72, 6,276 yards) in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, she shot 6 under par on the second day to rise to a tie for 3rd place (10 under par, 135 strokes). Madelene Saxstrom (Sweden) leads (14 under par, 131 strokes), Ally McDonald (USA) is 2nd (12 under par, 133 strokes), and Linnea Strom (Sweden) and Robin Choi (Australia) are tied for 3rd.

This tournament is played over the first and second rounds on the Creek Course (par 73, 6,307 yards) and the Beach Course, with the third and fourth rounds held again on the Beach Course. Jo Ah-yeon started tied for 22nd place, 4 strokes behind, and combined 8 birdies and 2 bogeys. Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), she scored 1 under par in the front nine with 2 birdies and 1 bogey. However, after birdies on holes 2, 4, and 5, she steadied herself with a bogey on the 6th hole (par 4), then swept up 3 consecutive birdies on holes 7 to 9.

She is 3 strokes behind the leader and in a position to aim for her first LPGA Tour victory after entering as a sponsor's invitee. Jo Ah-yeon said, "My putting was good, so I was able to reduce my score in the back nine," and added, "I heard strong winds are expected over the weekend, so I think I need to practice shots that use the wind."

Saxstrom reduced 5 strokes and topped the leaderboard for the second consecutive day. This is her chance for back-to-back wins in two tournaments following the Gainbridge LPGA on the 27th of last month.

Among Koreans, Kang Hye-ji (30), who was tied for the lead the previous day, faltered with 1 under par and dropped to a tie for 6th place (9 under par, 136 strokes). Park Hee-young (33) is tied for 6th, Lee Jeong-eun 6 (24) and Choi Hye-jin (21) are tied for 11th (8 under par, 137 strokes), Yoo So-yeon (30) and Lim Hee-jung (20) are tied for 38th (4 under par, 141 strokes), and Park In-bee (32) is tied for 48th (3 under par, 142 strokes), all advancing to the third round. On the other hand, defending champion C?line Boutier (France), Stacy Lewis, Cristie Kerr (both USA), Karrie Webb (Australia), and Shin Ji-ae (32) were cut off.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.