Wet and cold conditions on day one of the Meijer LPGA Classic For Simply Give gave way to warm and dry conditions on Friday, allowing players to continue to go low at Blythefield Country Club and remain packed atop the leaderboard.
Five players held the first round lead with six more sitting one stroke behind. So Yeon Ryu, In Gee Chun and Q Baek have separated themselves from the pack, pulling ahead early on day two into a share of the lead at nine-under par, one ahead of a group at eight under par.
Ryu has gone bogey free in Michigan, following her opening round 66 with a 67 on Friday to move into a share of the lead and take advantage of the more forgiving conditions compared to last week’s test at Sahalee Country Club.
“Well, I think, you know, we just finished major tournament last week and the golf course was quite narrow and a really, really tough golf course. We really had to deal with all the trees. Then, you know, after last week this golf course feels more wide open, I feel more comfortable, felt like be able to play more aggressive,” Ryu told the media. “So I think that's why you can see a lot of birdies out there and I think that's why a lot of players playing really well. I think next two days going to be quite similar I expect, so I think I'm just going to keep like aggressive playing like the last two days.”
Chun, the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion, shares the lead with Ryu, matching her with opening rounds of 66-67 to climb to nine-under par heading into the weekend. Like Ryu, Chun started her day on the back nine and got a quick boost at the par 4, 10th hole by getting up and down to save par, but dropped her only shot of the week so far at the par 3, 12th before bouncing back with birdies on her next two holes.
“Originally my goal was bogey‑free round this week, so my focus on my game. But I had one bogey today, so I try again bogey free on two days,” Chun told the media. “I play with Minjee and Kris today. I feel very comfortable, making for comfortable, really thank you to them.”
Chun played alongside Minjee Lee who sits just one back of the lead at eight-under par with a four-under par, 67 on Friday and Kris Tamulis at one-under par.
Baek also sits atop the leaderboard in a share of the lead with Chun and Ryu early on day two after carding a four-under par, 67 on Friday. She’s looking to post her first top-10 of the year this week, her best finish coming in an 11th place finish at her first event of the year, the Honda LPGA Thailand. The 2015 rookie captured her first win on Tour in 2014 at the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship.
The newest major champion on the LPGA Tour, Brooke Henderson sits just two-back of the lead heading into the weekend. The Canadian started her day on the back nine and bounced back from two bogeys with four birdies on the front to card a three-under par, 68 to move to seven-under par for the week.
“I started out not as well as I would have liked, 1-over for the front nine, but I made a lot of birdies on the back and go 4 under, so overall it was a pretty steady day. I know I'll have some work to do on the weekend but I'm looking forward to it,” Henderson told the media.
Lydia Ko and Paula Reto are also seven-under par, along with Lexi Thompson who went out in the afternoon wave and is currently through just four holes. Paula Creamer carded the low round Friday morning with a five-under par, 66. She is six-under par heading into the weekend.
Natalie Gulbis, making just her sixth start of 2016, withdrew due to injury during the second round.
Click here for scores from the second round of the Meijer LPGA Classic For Simply Give.
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