LPGA Tour veteran Megan Khang climbed into contention on Friday at the CPKC Women’s Open, blitzing Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club with a bogey-free 6-under 66, an impressive recovery from the bogey-bogey-bogey finish she had on Thursday. Starting the day at 1-under, the 25-year-old struck early, making a birdie on the par-3 3rd hole, and then went quiet, carding seven consecutive pars from Nos. 4 to 10. But Khang stepped on the gas after she made the turn, rattling off five birdies in a row on holes 11 through 15, the highest number of consecutive holes under par she has recorded since the third round of the 2018 Honda LPGA Thailand. It’s also her first five-hole birdie streak since the 2016 LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei.
Khang parred her last three holes to get in the clubhouse with a 66, which is her lowest score to par this season and which ties her lowest score of the year that she last shot on Sunday at The Amundi Evian Championship. After a frustrating end to her first round, Khang was pleased with how well she bounced back and will be looking to continue that consistency as she once again contends for her first LPGA Tour title over the weekend in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“Today it was a solid day,” said Khang, whose second-round 66 is just her 13th round in the 60s this season. “Yesterday I felt pretty good myself. It’s never a good feeling finishing three bogeys in a row so obviously I knew I could play some pretty good golf out here. Each day is different but, kind of mid-round my ball striking got pretty hot, and then my putter was getting hot as well. The front nine felt monotonous making one birdie, but on this kind of golf course par is definitely your friend, and sometimes it's a really good par out there.”
It's been an incredibly solid season for the Massachusetts native who has only missed two cuts and has recorded five top-15 finishes in her 15 total starts ahead of the CPKC Women’s Open, three of which were in major championships. Her season-best result is a tie for third that came at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course and she finished in a tie for ninth at both The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship. She even has clinched a spot on the United States Solheim Cup team and will be making her third appearance in the biennial team competition at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, Spain in late September.
Really the only thing that seems to be missing for her is that elusive first LPGA Tour title, one that she has come close to capturing this season. As Khang eyes another trophy this weekend in Canada, she’ll work to not get too far ahead of herself and stay focused on the challenge in front of her, namely the beast that is Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.
“Coming in, doing the practice rounds, we were all like, ‘Whoa, didn't realize we were playing another major’,” said Khang. “Definitely birdies are out there. There will be times where if you happen to miss the fairway you're just going to have to punch out, and that's okay. As long as you stay level-headed out there, I think it's okay. Bogeys are going to happen. This golf course I feel like you can't really get too comfortable on. These fairways are tight, and the greens are fast and firm, so I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm just going out there just trying to deal with one shot at a time. It's kind of anyone's game out there. I'm trying not to look at anyone else but just stay within myself.”
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— LPGA (@LPGA) August 25, 2023
Six birdies with no bogeys for @megan_khang1023! pic.twitter.com/uDVfjD4aom
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