Ryu takes commanding advantage at LPGA Black Desert Championship, building substantial gap between competitors.
Ryu's day began with a single-shot advantage following a flawless nine-under opening round. However, she faced some initial challenges, slipping up with a shot before scoring back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth, and an eagle at the ninth. She added two more birdies on her way to completing a five-under par 67, securing a 14-under total of 130.
"Yesterday was nothing short of fantastic for me, but today got off to a bit of a rocky start," she admitted. "But I just held out for my first birdie, and I managed a chip-in, which was quite spectacular.
"Today turned out to be another good day for me, thanks to my eagle and chip-in birdie—some pretty incredible moments for me today," she continued.
Ryu is making a quick comeback after a disappointing finish at the first major tournament of the year last week. She shared the 54-hole lead at The Chevron Championship but faltered on Sunday, missing out on the five-player playoff won by Japan's Mao Saigo.
Playing on a new course for the LPGA, her focus is on managing both the course and the conditions as she vies for her third victory.
"I think the winds might pick up a bit tomorrow and during the final round," she predicted. "This course is a bit tricky due to the numerous rocks near the fairway. I'm just concentrating on keeping the ball in the fairway and on the green — I'm just keeping an eye out for opportunities."
Ryu currently holds a two-shot lead over her compatriot Lee So-mi. Lee had six birdies in her second straight 66, scoring 132.
This marks the second time this season that Lee has begun with two rounds below 70. She is currently one stroke in front of Germany's Esther Henseleit and South Korean Joo Soo-bin, who both delivered 68s, resulting in a score of 133.
Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn, who started the day just one shot behind the leader, posted four birdies and a double-bogey in her two-under 70. This placed her tied for fifth on 134, alongside Taiwan's Hsu Wei-Ling, who also achieved a 70.
Ariya confessed that conditions were more challenging as the winds picked up in the afternoon, but she remains undeterred after "one bad shot" off the tee at the par-four second led to a double-bogey.
"I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing," said Ariya, who rallied with birdies at the fourth and seventh. "I've still got a shot at this tournament."
© 2025 AFP
Enrichment Data:The two main Ryus associated with golf are:
- So Yeon Ryu: She is a South Korean golfer and two-time major champion who is currently on sabbatical from the LPGA Tour. Her most recent win was at the 2021 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship[1].
- Ryu Hae-ran: She is another South Korean golfer who has played on the LPGA Tour. While she hasn't won a major tournament yet, she eyes her first major victory[6]. Ryu Hae-ran's most recent win was at the 2022 ISPS Handa Vic Open.
It's essential to clarify which Ryu is being referred to in the article, as it may affect the interpretation of her current status and performance in mentioned tournaments.
"Despite a rocky start today following her disappointing finish at the first major tournament of the year last week, Ryu managed to regain momentum with an eagle and a chip-in birdie.
"Ryu currently holds a two-shot lead over her compatriot Lee So-mi in the 2025 sports event, with the competition set to continue through the weekend at The Chevron Championship."
"Ryu Hae-ran, another South Korean golfer, is yet to win a major tournament, but she eyes her first victory at this year's event."
