Sung Yujin Ties for Lead in Hawaii... "Invited Player Sensation"

Sung Yu-jin and Wongtayulap Lead Lotte Championship 2R
Hole 3rd, Hataoka 5th, Henderson 11th
Butier 27th, Choi Hye-jin 40th, Kim Hyo-joo 58th

It is Sung Yu-jin's 'invited player whirlwind.'

On the 13th (local time), Sung Yu-jin recorded a 4-under-par 68 in the second round of the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship (total prize money $2 million) held at Ohakalai Country Club (par 72, 6,303 yards) in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, USA, taking the top spot on the leaderboard with 8-under-par 136. Natthakrit Wongtawilap (Thailand) is tied for first place, while Georgia Hall (England) and Linnea Strom (Sweden) are tied for third place at 7-under-par 137.

Sung Yu-jin is smiling brightly after finishing the second round of the Lotte Championship tied for the lead. [Hawaii=AFP·Yonhap News]

Sung Yu-jin started from a tie for third place, two strokes behind, and made five birdies (one bogey). After the first birdie on the 3rd hole (par 4), she made consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, then continued her momentum with 'stepping stone birdies' on the 13th hole (par 4) and 15th hole (par 3). However, a bogey on the 16th hole (par 4) was a blemish. Sung Yu-jin's powerful 282-yard drive stood out. Rising to a tie for the lead by one stroke, she has a great chance to win on the U.S. stage. Sung Yu-jin received an invitation to this tournament after winning her first career victory in her 73rd start, four years after her debut, at the Lotte Open on the KLPGA Tour in June last year.

Nasa Hataoka (Japan) is tied for 5th place at 6-under-par 138, while Brooke Henderson (Canada), the winner of the opening HGVTOC, and Hwang Yu-min are tied for 11th at 3-under-par 141. Mi-hyang Lee and C?line Boutier (France), the Drive On Championship winner, are tied for 27th at 1-under-par 143, and Choi Hye-jin is tied for 40th at even par 144. Defending champion Kim Hyo-joo struggled with a 6-over-par 78, dropping to a tie for 58th at 2-over-par 146. Rookie Yoo Hae-ran is also in this group. Park Sung-hyun, Park Geum-kang, and Jeon In-ji were cut off from the tournament.

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