Katsu units course file with 61 at Shanghai

SHANGHAI — Minami Katsu holed a protracted putt on the 18th to complete with a course file 11-under 61 on Friday and take a two-shot lead on the midway level of the LPGA’s Shanghai event.

Katsu had six birdies on the entrance 9 and, after a bogey on the par-4 tenth, she completed with six extra birdies on the Qizhong Backyard Golf Membership.

The 27-year-old Japanese participant moved to 13-under 131 after two rounds searching for her first victory on the tour.

“It was fairly flawless spherical — couple luckies I feel however actually good spherical total,” Katsu stated. “My career-best was 10 beneath, so new (private) file at present.”

Katsu stated she wasn’t eager about any data as she carded 12 birdies, and simply targeting the fundamentals. She lowered by one stroke the course file right here for 18 holes set by Sei Younger Kim final 12 months.

“Truthfully I am very pleased with the file that I made at present,” she stated. “Clearly we nonetheless received two extra days to play, so most likely no celebration. I am going to attempt to preserve it easy.”

Ina Yoon had 68 on Friday and was in second place at 11 beneath, a shot forward of People Jenny Bae and Lindy Duncan (67).

Bae was vying for the lead at 13 beneath within the final group going into the 18th however her spherical unraveled on the end.

She hit right into a bunker, took a drop within the hope of getting a greater lie after which hit her subsequent shot into the water. Bae completed with a triple-bogey 7 and settled for 69. Her blended second spherical contained eight birdies, a pair of bogeys and the triple bogey.

In a single day chief Arpichaya Yubol had a 71 and was in a tie for fifth at 9 beneath with Somi Lee (67) and Jeeno Thitikul (70).

The Shanghai occasion is the primary of 5 tournaments in Asia. There’s two weeks in South Korea, together with the Worldwide Crown group occasion, and different tournaments in Malaysia and Japan.

Final week, Youmin Hwang prolonged the unbelievable streak on the LPGA of getting completely different winners at every of the 25 official tournaments this 12 months. Hwang was the sixth participant from South Korea to win on the LPGA this 12 months.