Henderson tops Lotte C’ship leaderboard
KAPOLEI: Canada’s Brooke Henderson delivered her second straight bogey-free round on Thursday to take a two-shot lead at the halfway point of the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship.
The five-time LPGA winner fired a sixunder 66 in the second round for a tworound 10-under 134 total at the Ko Olina Golf Club in Oahu, Hawaii.
“Today was a lot of fun, I got off to a really fast start,” said Henderson. “I made a lot of clutch par saves to keep the momentum and keep it bogey-free.
“I feel like I’m in a great spot and I’m hitting the ball really well and I can depend on my putting right now.”
World No.1 Feng Shanshan, of China, and American Mo Martin are tied for second after shooting 69 and 67 respectively.
Pernilla Lindberg, Park In-Bee and Lindy Duncan are tied for fourth at six under.
Moriya Jutanugarn was at joint seventh on four-under 140 after shooting a 68. The Thai star sank four birdies in a bogey-free round to tie with Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe (68) and American Lizette Salas (71).
Her younger sister Ariya shared 15th place after a round of three-under 69 that included an eagle at the par-five 14th.
Henderson made four birdies on her first six holes and needed just 24 putts on Thursday. The longest putt Henderson made on Thursday was a 21-foot birdie on the parthree eighth hole.
“The wind wasn’t as strong early today and there were softer conditions,” said Henderson. “Fortunately it didn’t rain too hard and it helped with the softness of the course.”
First-round leader Feng rolled in three birdies in her bogey free round, while defending champion Cristie Kerr had a 75 to reach two-over 146, six shots back of Henderson.
Hawaii native Michelle Wie shot a 73 and is tied for 31st.
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES (USA unless noted, par-72)
134 — Brooke Henderson (CAN) 68-66
136 — Mo Martin 69-67, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 67-69 138 — Lindy Duncan 70-68, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 70-68, Park In-Bee (KOR) 69-69
140 — Mariajo Uribe (COL) 72-68, Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 72-68, Lizette Salas 69-71
141 — Nasa Hataoka (JPN) 72-69, Kim Ji-Hyun (KOR) 71-70, Ji Eun-Hee (KOR) 69-72
Selected scores 142 — Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 73-69