HAINAN ISLAND, China (AP) β South Korea’s Sei Young Kim took advantage of Chinese teen Lin Xi-yu’s wind-blown collapse Friday to take the second-round lead in the Blue Bay LPGA.
Kim made a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th for an even-par 72 in difficult conditions along the South China Sea at Jian Lake Blue Bay. She had a 2-under 142 total.
The 19-year-old Lin was 7 under and five strokes ahead after five holes, then bogeyed eight of the last 13 holes for a 77 that left her two strokes behind.
The 22-year-old Kim won playoffs this year in the Bahamas and Hawaii in events also played in strong wind on tropical seaside layouts.
Norway’s Suzann Pettersen had the best round of the day, a 3-under 69 to jump from a tie for 22nd to a tie for second at 1 under with Taiwan’s Candie Kung and Americans Ryann O’Toole and Austin Ernst.
