China’s Yan Liu recorded a rare albatross — a 3-under-par score on a hole — and emerged with the lead after the second round of the Chevron Championship on Friday in The Woodlands, Texas.
On the par-5 eighth hole at The Club at Carlton Woods, Liu’s second shot, a 7-iron from 170 yards out, found the hole.
Liu wound up shooting an even-par 72 for the day, leaving her at 7-under 137 in the first LPGA major of the season.
Four players are tied for second at 6 under: Lindy Duncan, who shot a 6-under 66 on Friday; Sarah Schmelzel, 68; Japan’s Mao Saigo, 68; and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim, 71.
Angel Yin (second-round 70), Belgium’s Manon De Roey (71) and South Koreans Hye-Jin Choi (71) and Haeran Ryu (74) share sixth place at 5 under. Ryu and Liu were the co-leaders after the opening round.
Additionally, China’s Weiwei Zhang was 5 under through 15 holes and 5 under for the tournament when play was suspended due to darkness Friday evening.
Liu said of her albatross, “I take my 7-iron and I see the ball (went) in, so that’s a really cool thing. But I think (the TV crew doesn’t) have video for that hole. Little sad. …
“I think I jump twice on the fairway. Just very happy and so excited. Players in (my) group say congrats to me, so that’s very nice.”
The rest of her round was forgettable. Liu made four bogeys, and her lone birdie came on the par-5 18th hole.
Liu, a 27-year-old who has yet to win an LPGA event, admitted she will feel some pressure entering the weekend as the leader.
“I think definitely I will feel a little bit, because this — well, this is major,” she said. “I know the course going to be harder, harder, so I think just I just stay … patient, calm. Because I’m very emotional person, yes.”
Duncan started her round well, recording five birdies and four pars on the back nine, which she played first. Then, after back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 5 and 6, she closed with three consecutive birdies.
“I think I’ve been hitting the ball well,” Duncan said. “Then I’ll have a round where I putt well and I have a good feel on the greens, and that really helped me today. I just dropped a couple long ones and kept the momentum going with the short ones as well.”
World No. 1 and defending champion Nelly Korda bounced back from a 77 in the first round with a 68 on Friday, leaving tied for 46th at 1 over par. Also at 1 over par is World No. 3 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who shot a second-round 72.