Yu Liu carded her second consecutive round in the 60s on Friday to move into solo second place, trailing the lead by a single stroke heading into the weekend at the Blue Bay LPGA.

The former Duke University standout is seeking to become just the second Chinese athlete to win the event since its 2014 debut, joining the 2017 champion, Shanshan Feng.

After cruising to a 4-under par 31 on her outward nine, Liu stumbled on the backside with four birdies and two bogeys for an inward nine of two-under-par 34.

"I wouldn't say it's a flawless round, especially out here," Liu said. "It's inevitable to make mistakes. I'm very happy about the score that I turned in and also the way that I handled myself out there."

For Liu, staying in contention on the LPGA Tour is as much about mental fortitude as technical skill. One shot off the lead, she noted that the key to handling the pressure of the final two-round push isn't a mechanical overhaul, but rather a reliance on her preparation.

"It's always tough. I feel like once you're out there on the course, there is no other choice but to trust the game," Liu said. "Definitely being more precise during day-to-day practice helps."

The 30-year-old described the thin margin between winning and losing at the professional level as a "competition of the nuances," where the leaderboard is often decided by "how good you are on the little things here and there."

After months of steady progress, Liu says she is finding a rhythm that extends beyond her swing.

"My game has definitely been trending in the right direction," she said, noting a "more balanced" approach both on and off the course.

Yu Liu One Back Heading into Weekend at Blue Bay LPGA

Related Articles