A Lim Kim shot an even-par 72 in the second round of the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open on Friday at Dundonald Links, moving to 5-under 139 through 36 holes.

Kim, who opened the tournament with a 5-under 67 to sit in solo third, carded two birdies and two bogeys against 14 pars in a round that tested the field with shifting conditions between the morning and afternoon waves. She currently sits one shot behind Jenny Shin, who was 6-under through Thursday's play and has just teed off in the second round.

Kim made a par on the first hole before a bogey on the par-4 second hole dropped her to 4-under for the tournament. She answered quickly, converting a birdie on the par-5 third hole to return to 5-under. From there, Kim settled into a string of pars, playing Nos. 4 through 9 in even par to turn in 36.

The back nine followed a similar pattern. Kim added a bogey on the par-3 11th hole to fall to 4-under before closing with six straight pars through the 17th hole. She capped her round with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole, matching her front-nine 36 and posting an even-par second round keeping herself near the top of the leaderboard for the tournament.

Kim, the 2020 U.S. Women's Open champion, has been one of the LPGA Tour's most consistent players this season, making the cut in 11 of 14 starts and collecting five top-10 finishes, most recently a tie for seventh at the Dow Championship and a tie for eighth at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

Playing in the morning wave, Kim said the scoring conditions were not necessarily easier than Thursday's opening round, despite rain moving through the course.

"In the morning wasn't easier than yesterday because [it] came [with] rain -- but the afternoon, after [the] back nine was better. But still hard for me. I don't know. I don't feel [like it's gotten] easier but still harder," Kim said.

Kim also drew attention this week for a distinctive addition to her on-course look: a pair of earmuffs worn during her rounds at Dundonald Links, where wind off the Ayrshire coast has been a factor throughout the week.

"My earmuffs, when I [wear] them, my ears [are] warm and I just keep it. My confidence is high," Kim said.

With Shin and several other contenders still to complete their second rounds, the leaderboard remains fluid entering the weekend. Kim will look to build on her position over the tournament's final 36 holes as she chases her fourth career LPGA Tour title.

A Lim Kim Battles Tricky Conditions to Sit One Back at ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open

Related Articles