Haeran Ryu Takes Two-Stroke Lead at BMW Ladies Championship

• Haeran Ryu shot an 8-under 64 on Friday to lead the BMW Ladies Championship.
• Minsun7 Kim (64) and Lauren Coughlin (66) share second place two strokes behind.
• Ryu has not made a bogey through 36 holes at Pine Beach Golf Links.

Haeran Ryu made two eagles and birdied her last two holes for an 8-under 64 on Friday, opening a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea.

The world No. 3, who has already won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship this season, reached 13-under 131 at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam. She has yet to drop a shot all week.

KLPGA player Minsun7 Kim matched Ryu’s 64 without a bogey and shares second place with American Lauren Coughlin, who added a 66 to her opening 67. Spain’s Julia López Ramirez (67) and Australia’s Karis Davidson (68) are tied fourth, three strokes back.

How did Ryu build the lead?

The damage came early and late. Ryu reached the par-5 2nd and 6th in two and holed both eagle putts to turn in 32. Coming home, she birdied the 12th and 13th, then closed with birdies at the 17th and the par-4 18th, where her approach finished about two metres from the hole for another inward 32.

The ball-striking was close to flawless. She hit all 18 greens in regulation and 13 of 14 fairways, following an opening 67 in which she found 17 greens and chipped in for birdie at the 5th from the one green she missed. Her 32 putts on Friday suggest the score could have been lower still.

“Today was an amazing day because I really worried about the wind but today’s wind is much better than yesterday, so that’s why I hit a lot of greens today. Everything is good for me, so yeah, I’m happy right now. .”

Ryu came from 10 strokes back after an opening 73 to win the KPMG Women’s PGA at Hazeltine by two over Ina Yoon, then won at Evian a fortnight later, beating Brooke Henderson with a four-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. Her third-round 60 there set the record for the lowest 18-hole score at an LPGA Tour major.

The 25-year-old has two wins and 10 top-10s this season and $4.5 million in official earnings. Victory on Sunday would be her third title of the year and sixth on the LPGA Tour.

AND THE CROWD GOES WILD 🔊 Haeran Ryu has to shush the crowd after carding her SECOND eagle of the day 🤫 https://t.co/yCrHB6cnMM

— LPGA (@LPGA) October 23, 2026

The chasing pack

Minsun7 Kim began the day tied eighth after a 69 and made eight birdies on Friday to climb into a share of second. She plans to enter the year-end qualifying series in pursuit of an LPGA Tour card, and on this evidence she has the game for it.

“It’s really exciting to shoot under par, especially since this is only my second LPGA event. I’m also really excited to have the opportunity to compete against such great LPGA players for the win tomorrow.

“Winning wasn’t really my goal coming into this tournament, so I’m already happy just to be in such a good position. Now that I’ve got this opportunity, I’ve been trying to focus on my shot tempo and routine over the last two days. The LPGA players tend to play a little faster, so I think if I can avoid getting caught up in their pace and just stay focused on my own game, I have a chance to put up an even better score.”

Kim is one of four KLPGA players in the top 10. Minju Kim (66) is tied sixth at 9-under, while Bokyeom Park, who followed a 71 with a 65, and Minsol Kim, who went 70-66, are tied ninth at 8-under.

Coughlin, who won her Sunday singles match for the United States at last month’s Solheim Cup, has posted 67-66. López Ramirez, a rookie on the European side that reclaimed the cup at Bernardus, contributing 1½ points, has carded back-to-back 67s.

Davidson and Japan’s Yuri Yoshida shared the first-round lead with 66s, and neither has yet won on the LPGA Tour. Davidson slipped behind Ryu’s pace with a 68, while Yoshida’s 69 left her tied sixth at 9-under alongside Minju Kim and Chizzy Iwai.

Further down the leaderboard

Lindy Duncan produced the other 64 of the day, recovering from an opening 74 to jump 48 places into a share of 15th at 6-under.

Defending champion Sei Young Kim, who ended a five-year victory drought with a four-stroke win here last year, shot 67 after an opening 72 and is tied 23rd at 5-under. Lucy Li, tied third overnight, managed only a 72 and joined that group. England’s Lottie Woad followed her opening 69 with a 74 and sits tied 56th at 1-under.

Related: Palmares Completes Course Upgrade Across All Three Nines

Wider fairways, short grass in place of sand around many greens, rebuilt bunkers and a bigger practice area.

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BMW Ladies Championship Leaderboard