LPGA Shanghai: Maja Stark takes one shot lead over Danielle Kang and Yu Liu after second round

Maja Stark leads the way midway through the Buick LPGA Shanghai after moving to 10 under on Friday; Stark was just one shot shy of the tournament’s 36-hole record of 134 with a two-under 68; Danielle Kang, defending champion, is tied for second with China’s Yu Liu.

Maja Stark is one stroke ahead of two-time champion Danielle Kang and local favorite Yu Liu of China after two rounds at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

Stark maintained her first-round lead and moved to 10 under with a two-under 68 in Friday’s second round at the 6,672-yard Qizhong Garden Golf Club. She finished one stroke shy of the tournament record of 134 through 36 holes.

Kang, who won the last two titles here in 2018-19 before the pandemic, and Liu both had scores of 67. Spaniard Azahara Munoz (66 on Thursday), Japan’s Yuna Nishimura (67) and Pavarisa are also income at eight cents. Yoktuan from Thailand (68).

Stark is seeking her first victory since capturing her first LPGA title at the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational.

“I think I played a little better than yesterday actually because I hit better shots.

Obviously I didn’t make as many putts as yesterday, but overall my game was better,” said Stark, who recorded five birdies with a bogey at the par-3 seventh hole after missing the green.

“I’m really excited to play with (Liu). On her home soil, I think she’ll be ready to play really well. On her home course, I didn’t really know, but I feel like I might be able to get some advice because it’s pretty tricky out there. Maybe I’ll steal some of his strategies.

After a birdie and a bogey on eight holes, Liu made five birdies on the next six – four in a row from 11 to 14 – to join the final group.

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

Liu finished tied for ninth in 2018 and third in 2019 in the first two editions of the event. Kang finished strong with four birdies in his last six holes.

“I hit some good drives,” Kang said. “Continue to give me good opportunities to be able to make second shots and stuff, so the game has been feeling good for a little while.”

First-round co-leader Wichanee Meechai shot 72 to find himself in a six-way tie for eighth place at 6 under. World number 1 Lilia Vu is tied for 14th at five under after a second-round 67 with seven birdies and two bogeys.