Mi Hyang Lee Posts Bogey-Free 66 to Lead Blue Bay LPGA by One Shot

South Korean Mi Hyang Lee holds an 11-under 133 total at the Blue Bay LPGA after a bogey-free second round in windy conditions.

Mi Hyang Lee carded a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Friday to seize a one-shot lead at the Blue Bay LPGA, reaching a 36-hole total of 11-under 133. The South Korean golfer leads Yu Liu, who also posted a 66 at Jian Lake Blue Bay, by a single stroke as the tournament heads into the weekend on Hainan Island. Lee, who is chasing her first victory on the tour in over eight years, capitalized on three of the four par-5 holes to secure birdies while maintaining a clean scorecard despite persistent wind.

Yu Liu, a former Duke University player, sits in second place alone at 10-under par. Liu is attempting to become only the second Chinese golfer to win this specific event since its inception in 2014, aiming to join Shanshan Feng in that distinction. Trailing the lead by two strokes is American Auston Kim, who finished with a 68 to reach 9-under par. Kim’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole, though she dropped her only shot of the day with a bogey on the ninth.

Tactical Navigation of Jian Lake Blue Bay

Lee attributed her success during the second round to her management of the undulating greens and shifting weather. Although the morning wind blew more than she anticipated, she noted the conditions were improved compared to Thursday afternoon. The South Korean focused on hitting specific sections of the greens to avoid the complex slopes, often choosing to chip rather than putt when her ball landed just off the putting surface. This strategy allowed her to navigate the difficult contours that frustrated other competitors.

Auston Kim experienced the difficulty of these green complexes firsthand during the closing stretch of her round. Several of her approach shots took unexpected bounces due to the green contours, resulting in long-distance putts or difficult par saves. After her bogey on the ninth, Kim recorded a string of pars before finishing her day with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole. Kim enters the weekend following a tie for third place in Singapore last week, marking her second consecutive week in contention for a maiden tour title.

Historic Hole-in-One and Field Dynamics

Ruoning Yin, the former Women's PGA champion representing China, recorded the first hole-in-one of the 2024 LPGA season on Friday. Yin utilized an 8-iron to ace the 153-yard par-3 seventh hole, which served as her 16th hole of the day. Despite the ace, Yin remains six shots behind Lee’s lead at the halfway point of the competition. The tournament serves as the conclusion of a three-event Asian swing, following stops in Thailand and Singapore.

The field at the Blue Bay LPGA is noted as the weakest of the three-tournament stretch. The previous week’s event in Singapore featured nine of the top 10 players in the women’s world rankings. Nelly Korda is a notable absence from the current leaderboard, as she chose to skip the entirety of the Asia swing.

Conditions and Weekend Outlook

While the wind direction remained similar to the opening round, the reduced intensity allowed for lower scoring among the leaders. Lee noted that the consistency in wind direction made the course more manageable than the previous afternoon. She enters Saturday with the advantage of having mastered the par 5s, which have proven critical for scoring at Jian Lake.

Auston Kim remains optimistic about her position as a chaser, stating that her game feels controlled heading into the final 36 holes. The American golfer will look to replicate her early-round momentum, which saw her climb the leaderboard before the tricky ninth hole. With Lee seeking to end a drought dating back nearly a decade and local favorites like Liu and Yin within striking distance, the final two rounds will test the field's ability to read the perplexing green slopes of Hainan Island.