Chun ‘in good position’ to claim third major crown
>>BETHESDA: Chun In-Gee extended her lead at the Women’s PGA Championship on Friday, firing a three-under-par 69 to open up a six-stroke advantage at the halfway stage as she hunts down a third major title.
The 27-year-old South Korean had demolished Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, in Thursday’s first round, shooting a course record eight-under-64 that left awed rivals in disbelief — and five shots adrift.
Chun found the going slightly harder on Friday, opening with three early birdies before back-to-back bogeys checked her progress just before the turn.
However, she regained those two strokes with birdies on the 10th and 18th to maintain a vice-like grip on the lead heading into the weekend on 11 under with a 36-hole aggregate 133.
Chun admitted she had felt under pressure after her scintillating opening round.
“I got a little pressure for sure because after I had a great first round, everyone [talked] about how you are, like, five-shot lead,” she said.
“Now I’m in a good position. Everyone’s expectations are really high.
“So it was a little tough to make focus, but I believe it’s another process in my life... So I just want to enjoy my next two days.”
Chun’s nearest rivals were New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who moved up the leaderboard with a five-under-par 67, and in-form Jennifer Kupcho, who shot seven birdies and three bogeys in a fourunder-par 68.
Kupcho and Ko were five under for the tournament.
Former world No.1 Ko is chasing her first major victory in six years.
The last of her two majors came at the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage in 2016 — the same year she finished second at the Women’s PGA Championship.
“It is hard to win, but I’m just trying to put myself more in that kind of position, and I think when you keep knocking on the door, you hope that one day that door will open,” Ko said.
Kupcho, chasing her second major win of the season after victory at the Chevron Championship in Rancho Mirage in April, said she will not change her strategy to try and catch Chun.
“If she’s going to continue to play well, that’s her game, and there’s really nothing anyone can do about it,” Kupcho said.
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES
(par-72, USA unless stated)
133 — Chun In-Gee (KOR) 64-69
139 — Lydia Ko (NZL) 72-67, Jennifer Kupcho 71-68 140 — Caroline Inglis 72-68, Hannah Green (AUS) 71-69, Brooke Henderson (CAN) 71-69, Kim Sei-Young (KOR) 71-69, Jennifer Chang 70-70
141 — Lexi Thompson 74-67, Lin Xiyu (CHN) 73-68, Minjee Lee (AUS) 73-68, Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 69-72, Choi Hye-Jin (KOR) 69-72