Sei Young Kim records consecutive rounds of 65 to assume the lead in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES — Sei Young Kim recorded her second consecutive 7-under 65 on Friday at El Caballero, securing a one-stroke advantage in the JM Eagle LA Championship, the final tournament prior to the season’s first women’s major.
Competing in the morning session on the undulating, tree-lined course, Kim birdied two of the initial three holes and then made a significant advancement on the back nine with five birdies over a seven-hole span.
“I just want to keep progressing over the next two days,” the 33-year-old South Korean golfer stated. “I aim to advance regardless of my standing.”
First-round leader Chizzy Iwai from Japan was tied for second alongside Ina Yoon from South Korea.
Iwai followed her opening round of 63 with a 68, achieving three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the back nine late in the afternoon.
She is also aiming to be aggressive on the course.
“I prefer playing aggressive golf,” Iwai remarked. “I believe I need to maintain that approach tomorrow.”
Yoon posted a score of 64. She completed her first nine holes — the back nine at El Caballero — in 7-under 29 and added a birdie on the par-5 seventh hole.
“I have never shot a 29 for nine holes in my life. It was incredible,” Yoon expressed. “The back nine was a bit disappointing.”
The Chevron Championship is scheduled for next week in Houston, with Kim, based in the Dallas area, eager about her strong performance leading into the major.
“I am very much looking forward to next week,” Kim noted. “However, I have two more days, so I will concentrate on this weekend.”
Kim secured her last of 13 LPGA Tour titles at the BMW Ladies Championship last year in South Korea. She claimed her sole major title at the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Iwai achieved her first LPGA Tour victory last year in Mexico. Yoon has yet to win on the tour.
Jin Hee Im (68), Melanie Green (68), and Jessica Porvasnik (69) were five strokes behind at 9 under.
Hannah Green, the winner in 2023 and 2024 at Wilshire Country Club, stood at 8 under after a 69. The Australian has three global victories this year – the HSBC Women’s World Championship on the LPGA Tour, along with the Women’s Australian Open and Australian WPGA.
The tournament is being held at El Caballero for the second consecutive year due to course renovations at Wilshire.
Defending champion Ingrid Lindblad was at 3 under following a 72.
Lauren Coughlin, who won two weeks ago at Shadow Creek, followed her opening 66 with a 76, dropping to 2 under. She recorded six bogeys on Friday.
Amateurs Asterisk Talley and Aphrodite Deng were at 4 under. The 17-year-old Talley, participating in her first event since losing the lead on the back nine in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, carded her second straight 70. Deng, hailing from Canada, shot a 72.
Hyo Joo Kim withdrew before the round after starting with a 68. She currently leads the tour this year with two victories, having won in consecutive weeks in the Bay Area and Arizona.
