Making eight consecutive pars wasn’t how first-round leader Jennifer Kupcho wanted to begin day two at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. But, the 25-year-old hung tough, stayed patient and finally made five birdies in her last ten holes to shoot 67 and lead by two shots heading into the weekend at Blythefield Country Club. Kupcho hit 8 of 13 fairways and 13 of 18 greens with just 27 putts, an effort she was pleased with considering the incredibly windy conditions.
“I started out not hitting it great so was just trying to stay patient and on a couple of holes save par, so I actually got out of the holes pretty well,” said Kupcho, who hasn’t made a bogey in 36 holes at Blythefield. “I didn't really expect a whole lot coming out here today. Set a pretty low bar for myself, so to come out and play well, it was nice to see. I kept telling myself that yesterday was so easy and golf really seemed like it was the best I could do yesterday, so I kind of came out with the mindset that not everything is going to go my way today, and it certainly didn't on the first eight holes.”
Kupcho’s two-day total of 130 is the second-lowest 36-hole score of her career and it’s just her third time holding the 36-hole lead or co-lead. She became a Rolex First-Time winner back in April when she won The Chevron Championship by two strokes to take the last leap into Poppie’s Pond. As she looks ahead to the weekend in Michigan, Kupcho will be relying heavily on that past experience as she works to add a second win to her resume.
“I think it's just having a confident mindset and knowing that I can do it,” she said. “Obviously, I've won a lot in amateur golf, so, yeah, I was cold for a couple of years so to be able to come out and win, I think it just gives me a lot of confidence to be able to win on this level.”
Rolex Rankings No. 2 Nelly Korda sits in solo second after day two, jumping up the leaderboard after carding a bogey-free, 7-under 65 that saw her hole out for eagle on the par-5 14th. She hit 9 of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens on Friday and had to get creative in the windy conditions, something Korda enjoys having to do every once in a while.
“Golf is a game of creativity,” she said. “There is so much you can do in the game of golf, and that makes it really exciting. Playing in the wind is definitely a little bit more exhausting. You have to be way more into it when it comes to numbers, where you're starting the ball. It's not like you go hit a ball and you'll see it going straight. You have to play a bit more with it, but I think that's what makes it a lot of fun. When you have that attitude, I think it doesn't drain you as much.”
Spaniard Carlota Ciganda is alone in third after rounds of 68 and 65, the latter of which saw her make two eagles on holes 8 and 18. Par fives have been key for Ciganda this week – she’s made birdie or better on 8 of the 10 she’s played – and she plans to continue that ferocity over the weekend. “I think two, three of (the par 5s), they are almost like par 4s,” she said. “Yesterday I hit driver, pitching wedge, driver, 50 on 8, and today two 9-irons. So if I hit a good driver I have a good chance of making a three or four.”
Two-time Meijer LPGA Classic winner Brooke Henderson, major champion Lexi Thompson and LPGA Tour winner Madelene Sagstrom are tied for fourth at -10 with Germany’s Caroline Masson and major champion Anna Nordqvist in a tie for seventh at -9. A trio of players round out the top 10 at 8 under, including American Jessica Korda, LPGA Tour mom Gerina Mendoza and South African Paula Reto. A total of 78 players made the cut at -2.
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