During the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Sarah Schmelzel surged ahead with a stellar performance, carding a 5-under 67 to claim a two-shot lead. The 30-year-old, seeking her first LPGA Tour victory after six seasons, showcased her skills with six birdies and one bogey, finishing at 6-under 138 at the tree-lined Sahalee course.
Trailing closely behind Schmelzel are three former major champions, each two shots back. The first-round leader, who had a 72, is among them, along with Jin Young Ko (68) and Hinako Shibuno (70).
In the afternoon session, world No. 1 Nelly Korda faced early struggles, bogeying her first four holes to drop to 1 over. Schmelzel's strong finish included a crucial 10-foot birdie on the par-3 17th and an aggressive approach on the par-5 18th, setting up a tap-in birdie for the low round of the championship.
Reflecting on her performance, Schmelzel emphasized her patience and aggressive tee shots as key elements of her game plan. The South Carolina alum, who secured a career-best runner-up finish earlier this year, highlighted her strong driving and ability to capitalize on shorter irons.
Meanwhile, Thompson, after a solid start, faltered with a double bogey on the par-5 second hole, followed by another dropped shot on the par-4 fourth. Despite facing challenges, Thompson remained resilient, acknowledging the need to accept occasional mistakes and recover strategically.
Ko, who had a bogey-free round until the 16th hole, stumbled with a bogey on the par-4 eighth. Notably, Brooke Henderson, the 2016 Women's PGA champion at Sahalee, posted a 72 to finish 1 over through 36 holes.
As the competition intensifies, the leaderboard promises an exciting conclusion to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, with Schmelzel leading the charge and a talented field in pursuit of the prestigious title.
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