MIDLAND, Mich. — Grace Kim had a hole-in-one and mixed with Auston Kim for eight birdies in a fourballs format Friday for a 9-under 61 and a five-way share of the lead within the Dow Championship.
One of the best rating amongst these tied for the lead belonged to the Danish pair of Nicole Broch Estrup and Olympics-bound Nanna Koertz Madsen, who birdied their final two holes for a 60.
Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho of america had a 64, the identical rating that they had in foursomes in the course of the opening spherical. The Thailand tandem of Jaravee Boonchant and Chanettee Wannasaen additionally had a 64, whereas the Taiwan duo of Ssu-chia Cheng and Wei-Ling Hsu had a 63.
The 5 main pairs have been at 12-under 128, resulting in a wide-open weekend at Midland Nation Membership within the LPGA Tour’s solely official staff occasion.
Three different groups, together with Charley Hull and Georgia Corridor of England, have been one shot behind. Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson have been amongst these two behind.
Auston Kim couldn’t keep in mind the par 3 the place she and her 23-year-old Australian teammate made a bogey — uncommon for the fourballs format — however there was no forgetting the par-3 seventh. They have been only one underneath for the spherical on the time, and Auston Kim hit first to twenty ft.
Grace Kim felt sufficient wind that she went up one membership to a three-quarter 7-iron, and it seemed good all the way in which.
“Was clearly simply making an attempt to place it shut. All I see is it sort of disappear. I’ve had plenty of shut shades, and that is truly my first one. So very thrilling,” Grace Kim mentioned.
They birdied the subsequent gap, after which had 5 birdies on the again 9, which didn’t embrace the lone par 5 on the again.
“Loads of good got here from that gap, courtesy of Grace,” Auston Kim mentioned. “It felt actually optimistic going ahead from there.”
The Danes performed late within the afternoon and had a 10-shot deficit to make up after they bought began. Koertz Madsen had an eagle on the par-5 third gap, and the duo surged right into a share of the lead with birdies on the seventeenth and the par-3 closing gap.
Ewing and Kupcho had three birdies of their opening 4 holes, picked up three extra birdies on the again 9 and have been by no means in deep trouble all through the day.
“Jen performed actually stable,” Ewing mentioned. “We had plenty of attractiveness, which once you’re enjoying finest ball like that, if you happen to each have birdie putts, that’s actually large. And she or he made a number of birdies at this time. It was good to see one other good rating, particularly in finest ball.”
