Sydney’s Grace Kim just one behind lead at Evian Championship
Grace Kim is all concentration during round 2. Image Mark Runnacles LET
Sydney’s Grace Kim is just one shot off the pace after round two of the Amundi Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains in France, her second round of 3 under 68 leaving her just one behind the halfway leader, Somi Lee of Korea.
Sharing the lead after an opening round of 66, Kim dropped a shot at the 2nd hole today in her early morning round but added four birdies and no bogeys over the next 16 holes to have the lead outright when she finished her round before overtaken an hour or so later by Lee’s round of 65.
Kim is playing the event for the third occasion, having missed the cut on debut in 2023 and finished 51st last year.
In nine starts on the LPGA Tour this season, Kim has recorded just the one top ten, but the winner of one LPGA Tour title in her career to date was keen to take advantage of her 7.00am start today.
“Yeah, I mean, we were first off at 7:00 so it was an early start, but I wanted to make sure I took advantage of that tee time. It’s nice to be done before midday,” said the 24-year-old.
“So, yeah, just kind of, again, like I just knew how much this course can really sting you, so, yeah, just played fairways and greens. Had a few putts, maybe more than yesterday — but, yeah, just kind of kept it simple and it kind of worked out today.
“I think the last two years I’ve played it was definitely a learning experience, and I think for someone to dominate this course and capitalize on it, you have to know how this course is going to bite at you.
“I mean, I think the rookie year that I played out here, I had like 9-over and I cried, but I can definitely see now like how much it is worth that learning experience.
“It is obviously, again, just another week where you just kind of build on top of that. Yeah, I think experiencing that over the two years, even though it’s not that much to me, seems a lot because I feel like now I can comfortably play the course and know what the ball is going to do and how it’s going to bounce.”
The leader, Lee, is a five-time winner on the Korean LPGA Tour but is now in her second season on the LPGA Tour, where she has yet to win an individual title but did team with a fellow Korean to win the Dow event this season.
Joint first round leader Gabi Ruffelss of Australia could only manage an even par round today but she is just three off the pace at 7 under and in a share of 7th place while Minjee Lee is another shot back and tied for 12th.
Last year’s runner-up Stephanie Kyriacou of Sydney, improved with a second round of 68 to be at 4 under and in a share of 18th place.
