Pair of Kims Leading Lotte Championship


Two unrelated Kims from South Korea - Sei Young and I.K. - are tied for the lead through 36 holes of the Lotte Championship. The LPGA Tour event began Wednesday at Ko Olina Golf Club in Hawaii.

I.K. began the second round atop the leaderboard after a stellar 7-under 65 in blustery conditions. The 26-year-old followed that up with a 69 to reach 10 under 134, the same total as Sei Young, who's posted two straight 67s.

The wind again howled across the Ko Olina course, but I.K. has been pleased with how she's handled the conditions. "I feel really happy with the (round because) even though you hit a good shot, in this wind it can (go) anywhere really," she said.

Sei Young Kim has managed to rebound from her disappointment in the ANA Inspiration two weeks ago, when she entered Sunday with a three-stroke lead but struggled in the final round to finish fourth. Over 36 holes in Hawaii she's recorded 13 birdies and three bogeys.

Trailing by three strokes is another South Korean, Inbee Park (70), while tied for fourth at 138 are South Koreans Chella Choi (68), Mirim Lee (69) and Jenny Shin (69) and American Paula Creamer (69).

Defending champion and native Hawaiian Michelle Wie had a 69 and enters the third round tied for eighth at 139 with Japanese players Ai Miyazato (69) and Haru Momura (70).

Brittany Lincicome, winner of the recent ANA Inspiration, matched Sei Young Kim for the low round of the day, 67, and is tied for 11th at 140 with four others.

Although full shots are hard to negotiate in high winds, putts are too. "These greens are tricky," said Wie. "I feel like I'm doing everything I can to try to make the putts. I'm hitting good putts, good speed, and there is really nothing you can do when the wind blows it offline or the grain takes it."

The weekend cut was set at 3-over 147.

No. 1- and No. 2-ranked Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis aren't entered this week.

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard.