Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R2
January 27-30
Boca Rio Golf Club, Boca Raton, Florida
$2,000,000
Round 1, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Danielle Kang carded a 4-under par 68 on Friday in Boca Raton to climb into a share of the lead at 11-under alongside overnight leader Lydia Ko at the halfway point of the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.

Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R2

“I’m just proud of the process. It’s not just about repeating the same thing I did last week. It’s being able to keep the consistency up,” said Kang. “I really wanted to get to double digits [under par]. That was my goal today, so I was happy to do that.”

Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R2

Ko recorded four birdies for a 2-under 70 in the second round. This is the ninth total time in Ko’s illustrious career that she has held or shared the 36-hole advantage. The most recent occurrence happened at the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA hosted by Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, where Ko finished in a tie for second.

“More of a grind than yesterday. I don't think I played as solid compared to yesterday, and I don't think I could have played much better than the first round,” said Ko. “When you get off to a hot start, I think you do put a little bit of pressure [on yourself]. Even though you're a couple under par, you don't feel like it was as good because you keep comparing. But I tried not to do that and be committed over each shot, play the best golf I could today.”

Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R2

Two players are four shots back of Kang and Ko at 7-under including Jodi Ewart Shadoff (69), who will round out Saturday’s final grouping. The other is Yuka Saso (70), the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open champion. Saso has not missed a cut on Tour since accepting LPGA Tour Membership after that victory.

“For me, [the start of the season] it is more about getting the feel back of the competition because we had been off for a month and a half. I think be more relaxed, go for the pin, and try to be aggressive,” Saso said. “I think that helped my game for the past two weeks. I'm already happy that I'm able to play here on the LPGA, so make a lot of cuts and play all the majors.”

A group of five individuals share fifth at 6-under overall. Rolex Rankings No. 1 and defending Gainbridge LPGA champion Nelly Korda shot even par on Friday to join Delray Beach resident Lexi Thompson (70) in a tie for 17th on 4-under.

Gainbridge LPGA 2022 R2