Friday, the wind picked up as round two got under way at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, making scoring subsequently more challenging.
The birthday girl, So Yeon Ryu, who turned 28 on Friday, finished strong with birdies on 14, 15 and 17 to move into a share of the lead at 6-under par, along with first round leader Sung Hyun Park and 2016 KPMG Women's PGA Champion Brooke Henderson. Ryu carded a 3-under, 69 and to celebrate, the crowd serenaded her after a par on 18. She was even gifted a birthday dessert.
Ryu, a two-time major champion, had an impressive day with the putter with just 26 putts. She also chipped in from off the green and had to clear a bunker on hole five.
"That chip was the best birthday present I've ever had," said a very happy Ryu.
Ryu is hitting her stride in recent weeks. The Korean won two weeks ago at the Meijer LPGA Classic and told the “On The Tee” podcast this week that she wants to add another major to her resume to get closer to achieving the career Grand Slam. She won the U.S. Women's Open in 2011 and the ANA Inspiration in 2017.
Park turned in an even-par, 72 compared to her 6-under in round one, but remains firmly in the mix heading into the weekend. Friday, she started strong and held the solo lead at 8-under after 10 holes, but made two bogeys on her inward nine to drop back into a tie at the top.
Henderson, who hasn't finished worse than fifth in her three appearances at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, was a bit uneven with four birdies and four bogeys over her first 17 holes. But then the Canadian buried a 12-foot uphill birdie putt on 18 to sneak into a three-way tie for the lead. Henderson will go for her seventh career win this weekend.
"It was kind of up and down all day so to finish off with a really nice birdie putt on 18 gives me a lot of confidence into tomorrow," said Henderson. "I love it (the new putter). I feel like you can see the line really well on the course."
Lydia Ko had the round of the morning wave with a 6-under, 66 to move from T86 into the top 10. Ko made seven birdies over her first 13 holes and then rolled in a birdie from off the fringe at the par 3, 17th hole to get to 4-under. She made par on 18 and finished the day with eight birdies.
"I wasn't putting great yesterday so it was nice to birdie one and feel like I can make a birdie around here," said Ko. "I had a bit of confidence coming into this week because of the two top 10s. Confidence is a huge thing for me. When I have confidence, I'm able to execute a little better."'
Moriya Jutanugarn stayed in the mix with a even-par, 72 and remains at 4-under. Meanwhile, Cristie Kerr had one of the best rounds of the morning moving from outside the cutline to comfortable onto the weekend with a 4-under, 68.
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