Maja Stark takes solo lead into the weekend

Buick LPGA Shanghai R2

Maja Stark converted her 18-hole lead into another on Friday in her debut appearance at Qizhong Garden Golf Club. She carded a second-round 68 to take a one-stroke lead at 10-under heading into the weekend at the at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

“I think I played a little bit better than yesterday actually because I hit better shots. Obviously didn’t make as many putts as I did yesterday, but overall my game felt better,” said Stark.

Stark, who admitted to a confidence boost after her first Solheim Cup start two weeks ago in Spain, will play alongside two-time Buick champion Danielle Kang of the USA and China’s Yu Liu who are tied for second at 9-under on Saturday.

“I’m really excited to play with [Liu]. On her home soil I think she’s going to be ready to play really well,” said Stark, who faced Liu at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play in May and won 2&1. “Her home course, I didn’t actually know that, but I feel like I could maybe get some tips because it’s pretty tricky out there. Maybe I’ll steal some of her strategies.”

Liu, whose 67 ties her season-low individual 18-hole score, carded a solo birdie on No. 3 and a bogey on 8 in her first eight holes. But, it was five birdies in the next six holes on Nos. 9 and 11-14 that brought Liu back up the leaderboard and in contention once again in her home country.

“To be honest, pretty low expectations coming in because I’m not good at playing in the rain, so I knew the forecast was pretty much going to rain all throughout the round, which it did,” said Liu. “So I just feel like — my goal today was just to get through the round without making too much damage. I feel like I did a pretty good job.”

Kang’s round consisted of seven birdies and two bogeys, including four birdies in her final six holes of the day.

Spain’s Azahara Munoz sits in a tie for fourth alongside Japanese rookie Yuna Nishimura and Thailand’s Pavarisa Yoktuan at 8-under.

“First hole I made a nice up and down and I actually almost chipped in. Ever since then I start hitting it really good. On 2, hit is super close; didn’t make it. On 3 hitting it really close; made it. On 4, the same thing,” said Munoz, who is the lone player bogey-free through 36 holes in Shanghai. “After that, I just kind of kept trotting along and never got myself in trouble and just made a few more birdies.”

Pos.PlayerTo ParR1R2Total
1Maja Stark-106668134
T2Danielle Kang-96867135
T2Yu Liu-96867135
T4Azahara Munoz-87066136
T4Yuna Nishimura-86967136
T4Pavarisa Yoktuan-86868136
7Esther Henseleit-76869137
T8Ariya Jutanugarn-67266138
T8Moriya Jutanugarn-66969138
T8Danlin Cai-66870138
T8Alison Lee-66870138
T8A Lim Kim-66870138
T8Wichanee Meechai-66672138
T14Lilia Vu-57267139
T14Hye-Jin Choi-57267139
T14Frida Kinhult-57168139
T14Bailey Tardy-57069139
T14Angel Yin-57069139
T14Minjee Lee-57069139
T14Xiyu Lin-57069139
T14Mi Hyang Lee-56970139
T22Anna Nordqvist-47367140
T22Maddie Szeryk-47268140
T22Mina Harigae-47268140
T22Peiyun Chien-47268140
T22Karis Davidson-47169140
T22Kelly Tan-47169140
T22Muni He-46971140
T22Jasmine Suwannapura-46872140
T30Hae Ran Ryu-37467141
T30Ruoning Yin-37170141
T30Xizihan Wang (a)-37071141
T30Lauren Coughlin-36873141
T34Rose Zhang-27369142
T34Nasa Hataoka-27270142
T34Patty Tavatanakit-27270142
T34Gina Kim-27270142
T34Chanettee Wannasaen-27270142
T34Miranda Wang-27171142
T40Lydia Ko-17469143
T40Zixuan Wang (a)-17469143
T40Lauren Hartlage-17370143
T40Yan Liu-17271143
T40Perrine Delacour-17271143
T40Madelene Sagstrom-17172143
T40Weiwei Zhang-17073143
T40Jaravee Boonchant-16974143
T40Shuying Li-16875143
T49Dani HolmqvistPar7569144
T49Lindy DuncanPar7569144
T49Yuting ShiPar7569144
T49Celine BorgePar7173144
T49Arpichaya YubolPar7173144
T49Gabriella ThenPar7173144
T49Carlota CigandaPar7074144
T56Matilda Castren+17471145
T56Olivia Cowan+17471145
T56Stephanie Meadow+17471145
T56Paula Reto+17471145
T56Pajaree Anannarukarn+17372145
T56Ruixin Liu+17372145
T56Xiaowen Yin+17273145
T63Maria Fassi+27868146
T63Zixin Ni (a)+27670146
T63Emily Kristine Pedersen+27472146
T63Lucy Li+27472146
T63Andrea Lee+27274146
T63Minami Katsu+27076146
69Grace Kim+37374147
T70Hinako Shibuno+47573148
T70Linnea Strom+47276148
72Yujie Liu (a)+57673149
T73Yuli Shi+67773150
T73Wenbo Liu+67674150
T73Yuai Ji+67575150
T76Emma Talley+78071151
T76Morgane Metraux+77378151
T76Xiang Sui+77279151
79Amy Wu (a)+127977156
80Yanhong Pan+148078158
W/DSei Young Kim71
Updated: October 13, 2023
Buick LPGA Shanghai 2023
Date: 12th October - 15th October, 2023
Location: Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Purse: $2,100,000