Mi Jung Hur came out firing on Friday at the Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA presented by CTBC with birdies on five of her first six holes. Hur cooled off a bit with just two birdies after No. 6 but will take a one stroke lead into the weekend at the Miramar Golf Country Club at 12-under par. Defending champion Nelly Korda stayed patient on Friday en route to a bogey-free 67 to sit just one shot back.
“All I was thinking about is trying to get to double digits because I know MJ is playing really well,” Korda said. “I'm just trying to give myself a chance to go into the weekend. My shots around the green were good and it's definitely tough out here today. Still a lot of golf to be played but definitely excited.”
Korda is looking for her second LPGA win of the 2019 season and third of her young career, while veteran Hur is looking to make a third trip to the winner’s circle this year.
In-Kyung Kim’s second-round 65 is her best round since the second round of the ANA Inspiration in March, and she sits T3 along with Minjee Lee just two strokes off Hur’s lead. After a blustery and rainy Thursday, Kim said the sunshine was much welcomed on Friday even with the on-and-off wind gusts.
“Just comfortable day with the weather compared to, you just don't know what to expect,” Kim said. “I didn't hit the ball pretty solid over the last few days. Yeah, par 5s were a little reachable today. Coming in, some of the par 4 with the downwind was quite challenging, but other than that, pleased with how I play….Really one shot at a time because the wind is on and off. You can't really be too tough on yourself. Obviously it's just a little bit of timing, as well.”
Brooke Henderson fired the lowest score of the tournament on Friday, a bogey-free 8-under par 64, to head into the weekend tied for fifth with Su Oh at -9.
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