Park, Lindberg Share Halftime Lead at ANA Inspiration

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Pernilla Lindberg
Credit: Getty Images/Jeff Gross

Sung Hyun Park fired a low-round 64 on Friday and shares the 36-hole lead at the ANA Inspiration with Pernilla Lindberg at 12-under 132.

Sung Hyun Park
Credit: Getty Images/Robert Laberge

Park, the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion, finished her second day in Rancho Mirage, California with just one bogey against seven birdies, including five in a seven-hole stretch (Nos. 7, 9, 10, 11, and 13). The Korean star also added a hole-out eagle on No. 15.

“I just was so focused on my game today, I didn’t even know I was 8-under, so it was a good round,” said Park.

Sweden’s Lindberg signed for her second-consecutive bogey-free card which included five birdies, highlighted by three gains on Nos. 6, 7, and 9.

The 12-under par 132 by Park and Lindberg set the ANA’s 36-hole scoring record, one better than Lorena Ochoa in 2006.

“I was actually more nervous yesterday than today. I kind of just felt a little unease yesterday all day, but I was very proud at how I handled that, and I still played great, obviously,” said Lindberg, who hit 16 of 18 greens.

Pernilla Lindberg
Credit: Getty Images/Robert Laberge

“But first day of a major, you’re going to feel some nerves. So I just actually, because I felt that yesterday, I felt calmer today.”

After a second-round 68, American Jessica Korda was three strokes back at 9-under par 135.

England’s Charley Hull (68) and Jodi Ewart Shadoff (67) are tied for fourth at 7-under par, alongside American Amy Olson, and Ayako Uehara.

Olson has the lowest score of any American player through 36 holes.

Beatriz Recari, Jennifer Song, and amateur Albane Valenzuela round out the top 10 at 6-under par.


TOP 10

1 Sung Hyun Park -12
1 Pernilla Lindberg -12
3 Jessica Korda -9
4 Jodi Ewart Shadoff -7
4 Amy Olson -7
4 Charley Hull -7
4 Ayako Uehara -7
8 Beatriz Recari -6
8 Jennifer Song -6
8 Albane Valenzuela -6


NOTABLES

11 Inbee Park -5
16 Lexi Thompson -4
16 Cristie Kerr -4
16 Sei Young Kim -4
16 Nelly Korda -4
16 Lydia Ko -4
16 Moriya Jutanugarn -4
26 In-Kyung Kim -3
26 Shanshan Feng -3
26 Ariya Jutanugarn -3
34 Paula Creamer -2
34 Michelle Wie -2
41 Stacy Lewis -1
41 Anna Nordqvist -1
64 So Yeon Ryu +1
64 Brooke Henderson +1
77 Brittany Lincicome +2
77 Danielle Kang +2
98 Juli Inkster +5


BULLETS

  • Pernilla Lindberg is playing in her seventh ANA Inspiration; her best finish is T18 in 2016
  • Sung Hyun Park is playing in her third ANA Inspiration; she finished T6 in 2016 and T14 in 2017
  • Park and Lindberg’s 36-hole score of 12-under 132 is a tournament record, breaking the mark of 11-under 133 set by Lorena Ochoa in 2006
  • Park’s second-round 64 is the lowest round of her ANA Inspiration career and is tied for the third-lowest round of her LPGA career
  • Lindberg is the only player to go bogey-free through 36 holes, returning 12 birdies and 24 pars
  • Jessica Korda is playing in her eighth ANA Inspiration; her best finish is T11 in 2017
  • The cut fell at 1-over 145, with 76 players reaching the weekend
  • Major champion Paula Creamer made her first cut of the 2018 season on Friday (T34, -2) in her third start after she had season-ending wrist surgery last year

VIDEO: SHOT OF THE DAY

Sydnee Michaels drains this tee shot on No. 8.


QUOTABLE

“You just have to hit it on the fairways out here, but they’re putting some hard pin locations. They’re tucking them a lot more than they usually do. There were actually a few Sunday pins from last year that they put today. But you just have to hit it in the fairway and go after the pins. The greens are a little receptive, they are a little firmer, but the course is in great shape, so you can definitely attack it if it’s no wind like this.”
– Lexi Thompson (-4)


Credit: LPGA Tour Communications, Getty Images


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