Yamashita, Kim, and Corpuz Share 9-Under Lead at FM Championship

Miyu Yamashita shot a 2-under 70 on Friday to join Hyo Joo Kim and Allisen Corpuz at the top of the FM Championship leaderboard.

Miyu Yamashita posted a 2-under 70 on Friday at TPC Boston to reach a 9-under 135 total, securing a three-way share of the lead at the FM Championship. The 4-foot-11 Japanese star sits atop the leaderboard alongside Hyo Joo Kim and Allisen Corpuz, who both carded rounds of 67 during the second day of play in Norton, Massachusetts. This performance follows Yamashita’s recent nine-stroke victory in Canada, where she tied the LPGA Tour 72-hole scoring record.

Trailing the lead trio by a single stroke are Morgane Metraux, Ruoning Yin, and Jenny Bae. Metraux and Yin both surged into contention with rounds of 65, while Bae recorded a 68 to finish at 8 under. Nataliya Guseva also carded a 68 to reach 7 under, matching Emily Kristine Pedersen, who finished her Friday round with a 72. The tournament features a $4.4 million purse, the largest for any non-major event on the LPGA Tour schedule.

Leaderboard Shifts and Solheim Cup Context

Sei Young Kim, who held the first-round lead after an opening 64, dropped three strokes off the pace following a second-round 74. Meanwhile, world number one Nelly Korda recorded her second consecutive 72 to finish at even par, making the cut on the number. This event serves as the final competitive tune-up before the Solheim Cup matches take place in the Netherlands.

Allisen Corpuz entered the week having just secured the final automatic qualifying spot for the U.S. Solheim Cup team. During her second round, she focused on patience, noting that her ball-striking allowed for consistent par saves even when missing greens. Her 5-under 67 moved her into the lead group as she seeks to add to the field's competitive depth.

Career Milestones and Seasonal Stats

Yamashita’s resume includes four LPGA Tour titles, highlighted by a victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan this past June. Her previous season featured wins at the Women's British Open in Wales and the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, contributing to her Rookie of the Year honors. Beyond the LPGA, she has amassed 13 victories on the Japan LPGA circuit.

Hyo Joo Kim is also pursuing her third win of the current season, having already claimed trophies at the Founders Cup and the Ford Championship. After her 67 on Friday, Kim remarked that it had been a significant amount of time since she last saw her name at the top of a leaderboard.

Nordqvist Advances in Final LPGA Event

European Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist successfully advanced to the weekend in what is her final career event on the LPGA Tour. The Swedish golfer rebounded from an opening-round 74 by shooting a 4-under 68 on Friday. Nordqvist attributed her difficult start to gusty winds on Thursday afternoon and admitted that emotions regarding her retirement had made it difficult to sleep prior to the second round.

The field now moves into the weekend at TPC Boston with the leaders separated by only three strokes from the top seven players. The competition remains tight as players navigate the final event before international team play begins in Europe.