Lee and Ruffels remain in touch at Chevron Championship
Minjee Lee has lost the lead she shared after day one of the Chevron Championship, but at the halfway mark of the opening major championship of the year, the West Australian is just four shots from the lead held by Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and in a share of 9th place.
Also in 9th place is Lee’s fellow Australian, Gabi Ruffels, who added a round of 71 to her opening 68 to be the joint leading Australian with Lee at 5 under.
Lee began her round well with a birdie at the 2nd but almost inexplicably she would drop five shots in the next six holes to slip well down the leaderboard but she recovered well with four birdies in her last eleven holes to get within touch heading into the weekend.
Ruffels began with a bogey after her encouraging 4 under yesterday but she bounced back from that shaky start to again be in contention over the weekend in this event. Ruffels has been 19th and 15th in her only two previous starts at Mission Hills
Ruffels was asked about just what expectations she has of herself and how best she manages them. “I have expectations, and it’s just learning to manage them that is the big thing.
“It’s just you can have expectations, but you can’t really control the outcome. You just, you know, if you can look at yourself in the mirror day by day and know you’ve done your best, that’s all you can do.
“I feel like I’m hitting it well. Feel like I’m playing well, hitting my lines, and enjoying the time out here with my caddie.
“I feel like every day I’m learning a little bit more about this course and getting more comfortable out here, so, yeah, I’m excited for the weekend.”
Shibuno, a previous Women’s British Open winner, leads the event at 9 under, one ahead of defending champion Patty Tavatanakit, Jennifer Kupcho and Annie Park.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko is tied for 20th at 3 under, with Hannah Green at 2 under.
Su Oh and Sarah Kemp will have the weekend off.
