SHANGHAI – Minami Katsu made a long putt at the LPGA Shanghai tournament on Friday, posting a course record 11-under 61 and taking a two-shot lead at the halfway point.
Masaru made six birdies on the front nine and, after a bogey on the par-4 10th, finished with six more birdies at Nanaka Hanazono Golf Club.
The 27-year-old Japanese player was aiming for his first victory on tour and rose to 13-under 131 after the second round.
“It was a pretty perfect round. I think I had some luck, but overall it was a really good round,” Katsu said. “My career best was 10 under, so today was a new record.”
Masaru said he didn’t think about the record as he made 12 birdies and just focused on the basics. She broke the course record for the last 18 holes, set by Kim Sei-young last year, by one stroke.
“Honestly, I’m very happy with the record I achieved today,” she said. “Obviously we still have two more game days so we probably won’t be celebrating. We’re going to keep it simple.”
Ina Yun shot a 68 on Friday to finish second at 11 under, one stroke behind American players Jenny Beh and Lindy Duncan (67).
Beh fought for the lead in the final group with 13 under par and finished 18th, but collapsed at the end of the round.
She hit it into a bunker, dropped hoping for a better lie, and hit her next shot into the water. Bae finished with a triple-bogey 7 and settled for a 69. In the second mixed round, he recorded eight birdies, two bogeys, and a triple bogey.
Arpichaya Yubol, the night’s leader, shot a 71 to tie for fifth place at 9 under with Somi Lee (67) and Gino Titikul (70).
The Shanghai Games are the first of five to be held in Asia. It will be held for two weeks in South Korea, including the International Crown Team event and other tournaments in Malaysia and Japan.
Last week, Huang Yumin extended his incredible record on the LPGA with a different winner in each of this year’s 25 official tournaments. Hwang became the sixth Korean player to win the LPGA this year.