'Number 1' Ko Jin-young Takes Lead "Did You See My 7-Under Par Daily Best?"... Hataoka in the Race for Victory

Day 2 of Dio Implant LA Open: 7-Under Par Surge, Green in 3rd, 'Golf Queen' Park In-bee Tied 6th in Chase

Ko Jin-young is teeing off on the 5th hole on the second day of the DIO Implant LA Open. Los Angeles, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "Tied 30th → Tied for the lead."

It is a surge by world No. 1 Ko Jin-young (27). On the 23rd (Korean time), at the Wilshire Golf Club in Los Angeles, California, USA (par 71, 6,447 yards), during the second day of the LPGA Tour DIO Implant LA Open (total prize money $1.5 million), she took the top spot on the leaderboard (7-under 135) with a daily best 7-under round. Nasa Hataoka (Japan) joined her in a tie for the lead, while Hannah Green (Australia) is chasing in third place (5-under 137).

Ko Jin-young recorded eight birdies and one bogey. She started strong with a birdie on the 4th hole (par 4) and consecutive birdies on the 7th and 8th holes. Although she had her only bogey on the 9th hole (par 4), she energized the course with four consecutive birdies from the 11th to the 14th holes. She added another birdie on the 17th hole (par 4). This sets her up for a second season win following last month's HSBC Women's World Championship. Moreover, she has thrilling memories of this tournament, having finished runner-up in 2018, tied for 5th in 2019, and tied for 3rd last year, making the top 5 in all three appearances.

Hataoka is a player to watch. She struggled early, exchanging four birdies for four bogeys, but showed strong finishing power with three consecutive birdies from the 7th to the 9th holes. From Korea, Kang Hye-ji (32) is tied for 4th place (4-under 138). 'Golf Queen' Park In-bee (34, KB Financial Group) is tied for 6th (3-under 139), and Kim Se-young (29) is tied for 10th (2-under 140). Defending champion Brooke Henderson (Canada) struggled with a 5-over on the first day and was ultimately cut off.

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