Henderson in the hunt at LPGA major
Canadian star two shots off at Women’s PGA Championship
HARRISON, N.Y.— Sei Young Kim of South Korea has already won twice in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
Now the 22-year-old is taking aim at a major title, making an eagle on the 15th hole for a 5-under 68 Friday and a one-shot lead after the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Kim overtook Hall of Famer Karrie Webb, who birdied the 18th for a 71. Kim, who turned pro in 2010 and played on the LPGA of Korea Tour, shot bogey-free golf to finish at 8under 138 at the Westchester Country Club.
“My goal for this year is to become top five,” Kim said. “And if I win a major, I could be one step closer.”
Two-time defending champion Inbee Park (68) joined Webb a stroke back.
Suzann Pettersen rallied with seven birdies for the best round of the day at 66 and tied Canadian teenager Brooke Henderson (73) at 6 under. Overnight leader Jenny Shin (75) and third-ranked Stacy Lewis (71) were three shots behind the leader.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko (76) missed the cut, which was 2 over, ending her streak of 53 consecutive made cuts. She had a double bogey on No. 2 to start her day and finished with four bogeys and three birdies.
The17-year-old Henderson had five birdies and five bogeys in an up-anddown round with her father Dave as caddie. After three-putting on her final hole Thursday to finish a shot behind Shin, she bogeyed two of the first five holes on Friday.
She hit her approach shot at No. 17 within eight feet for a possible birdie putt and a tie for the lead, but it ran past on the right.
“I didn’t have my ‘A’ game,” said Henderson, playing in her fourth major. “I hit a lot of shots just really close to being really good but would just roll off the back because the greens. Just one of those days you have to learn from and move on.”
Henderson, who turned pro in December, is playing on a sponsor exemption because she is below the LPGA Tour’s age requirement of 18.
“It’s really exciting seeing my name up there with Stacy Lewis and Karrie Webb,” she said. “I think I just have to stay patient, stay consistent and keep working on my game and I think good things will happen.”