Nasa Hataoka carded a 6-under-par 66 to overcome windy conditions on Friday and pull into a share of the lead with Cassie Porter after the second round at the Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island, China.
Starting on the back nine, Hataoka recorded a birdie on five of her first six holes. The Japan native finished with seven birdies against one bogey to reside at 7-under 137 at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course.
“Under this windy condition, I was trying to hit the control shot with irons, so I think it was … good with good distance control,” Hataoka said.
For Hataoka, it marked the first time that she held at least a share of a lead since the 2023 CME Group Tour Championship. She is a six-time winner on the JLPGA, including three Japan Women’s Open Golf Championships (2016, 2017, 2019).
Porter, of Australia, had five birdies against one bogey to finish with a 68 on Friday. She missed the cut at Founders Cup in her only other tournament in 2025.
“Yeah, patience is the key. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself in the winds,” Porter said. “As much as it’s windy it’s also loud, so being able to just be patient and take what it gives you is really important out here. I think we did that well today.”
Rio Takeda of Japan had an eagle on No. 14 and a birdie on No. 16 to finish with a 69 on Friday. She sits one stroke back of the leaders and one ahead of both Gaby Lopez (70) of Mexico and Auston Kim (71), the first-round co-leader.
“I’m making plenty of birdies. Just being able to minimize the mistakes and unforced errors. But playing good golf,” said Auston Kim, a Floridian who played collegiately at Vanderbilt. “I know that it can be a lot better. I’m really proud of myself for hanging in there today with how tough it was.”
Ayaka Furue of Japan, who shared the first-round lead with Auston Kim and South Korean A Lim Kim, shot a 72 on Friday to sit tied for sixth place with countrywoman Mao Saigo (70).
Furue, the No. 7 player in the world, finished tied for second last week at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand carded a 73 to sit five strokes in back of the leaders, while world No. 4 Ruoning Yin of China finished with a 74 to rest nine shots off the pace at 2 over.
Defending champion Bailey Tardy shot a 72 to stand 10 shots behind the leaders.
–Field Level Media
