Jin Young Ko of South Korea caught fire late and broke the course record with an 8-under-par 63 to take the second-round lead at the Founders Cup on Friday at Bradenton (Fla.) Country Club.
A former World No. 1, Ko birdied six of her final nine holes to climb to 12-under 130 for the tournament. Four players are two off her lead: Yealimi Noh (64), Angel Yin (66), Japan’s Minami Katsu (65) and South Korea’s Jin Hee Im (66). Lauren Coughlin shot a 67 to occupy sixth place at 9 under.
“I didn’t know I was shooting 8 under,” Ko said. “After I (went to) scoring and I checked my score, oh my God, I (was) shooting like 8 under. Was pretty good. Yeah, I focused very well and I’m just trying to do my best.”
Ko, who began her round on the back nine, reached 17 of 18 greens in regulation and rolled in birdie after birdie, including a three-hole run at Nos. 6-8.
Ko won the Founders Cup in 2019, 2021 and 2023, so if the pattern continues, she’s in line for another odd-year victory. What’s different is the course and place on the schedule: Bradenton is hosting the Founders Cup for the first time, after it was most recently held in New Jersey during May.
“I don’t have any pressure from outside,” Ko said. “I mean, I just want to be better than yesterday and that’s why I’m here on LPGA Tour. All the good players are here from the world, and so, yeah, I have to be better than yesterday.”
Noh was on track to shoot a 63 of her own, thanks in part to a four-birdie run, but her only bogey of the day came on her last hole, the par-3 ninth.
“18 was the only green I missed and a lot of putts dropped in,” Noh said. “Tempo was really good today. Just made it simple: Fairways and greens.”
Yin kept her card clean while making three birdies and an eagle at the par-5 sixth. Only two players are bogey-free through 36 holes: Ko and Yin.
Yin said she told her caddie she felt dehydrated as she was playing the sixth.
“So I was kind of dizzy,” Yin said. “It was good to be able to make an eagle when I’m not feeling that great. I was seeing two balls. So I’ll drink more water.”
Noh is searching for her first tour victory, while Yin has one title to her name, the 2023 Buick LPGA Shanghai.
Nelly Korda (68) is six shots off the pace at 6 under. Lexi Thompson shot her second consecutive round of 69 and stands at 4 under. Thompson is playing for the first time since retiring from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season.
Among the notable names to miss the cut of even par were Danielle Kang (1 over), Stacy Lewis (2 over) and Canadian Brooke M. Henderson (4 over).
–Field Level Media
