'Number 2' Ko Jin-young's Leap "Tied 9th, 6 Strokes Behind"... Boutier Leads by 4 Strokes

2021 Season Final CME Group Tour Championship Day 2: Minji Lee Tied 2nd, 'Number 1' Korda, Jieun Heo, and Jeongeun Lee6 Tied 5th

Ko Jin-young is teeing off on the 3rd hole on the second day of the final event of the 2021 season, the CME Group Tour Championship. Naples, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the leap of ‘Number 2’ Ko Jin-young (26).

On the 20th (Korean time), at the Tiburon Golf Club (par 72, 6,556 yards) in Naples, Florida, USA, during the second day of the final event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season, the CME Group Tour Championship (total prize money $5 million), she shot 5 under par to rise to a tie for 9th place (8 under par, 136 strokes). C?line Boutier (France) leads with 14 under par (130 strokes), while Minjee Lee (Australia), Gaby L?pez (Mexico), and Mina Harigae (USA) are tied for 2nd place (10 under par, 134 strokes).

Starting from a tie for 25th place, 5 strokes behind, Ko Jin-young showcased a perfect performance with 5 birdies and no bogeys. In the front nine, she reduced 2 strokes at the 12th hole (par 3) and the 17th hole (par 5), then added birdies consecutively at the 1st and 2nd holes and another birdie at the 6th hole (par 5) on the back nine. Her ‘pinpoint iron shots’ with a 100% green hit rate were outstanding. She is 6 strokes behind the leader, still in a position where a comeback is possible. If she wins, she can top the world rankings, earnings, and Player of the Year standings.

Celine Boutier is reading the putting line on the 17th hole during the second day of the 2021 season finale CME Group Tour Championship. Naples, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz

Boutier surged to the top of the leaderboard with a daily best of 7 under par. Her long drives averaging 281 yards stood out. She is the winner of the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open and last month’s ShopRite Classic. ‘Evian Champion’ Minjee Lee made 5 birdies (1 bogey), laying the groundwork for her second win of the season. ‘Number 1’ Nelly Korda (USA) also reduced 3 strokes, moving smoothly to a tie for 5th place, 5 strokes behind (9 under par, 135 strokes).

For Korea, the ‘eldest sister’ Ji Eun-hee (35, Hanwha Q CELLS) posted 4 under par to climb to a tie for 5th place. Lee Jeong-eun6 (25, Daebang Construction), who was the leader the previous day, scored only 1 under par and dropped into this group. Kim Sei-young (28) and Yoo So-yeon (31, both Mediheal), Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group), and Kim A-lim (26, SBI Savings Bank) are tied for 19th place (6 under par, 138 strokes), Yang Hee-young (32, Woori Financial Group) is tied for 35th place (4 under par, 140 strokes), and Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) is tied for 39th place (3 under par, 141 strokes).

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