Coughlin Starts With a Record Nine Straight Birdies as Nishimura Builds Five-Shot Lead

Lauren Coughlin turned her second round at Pinnacle Country Club into something the LPGA had never seen. Starting on the back nine, Coughlin birdied every hole from #10 through #18, becoming the first player in Tour history to open a round with nine consecutive birdies. Her 9-under 26 was also the lowest nine-hole score in LPGA history. Another birdie at the third moved her to 10 under for the round and put 59 within reach, but six closing pars left her with a 61 and moved her to 8 under after an opening 73. Coughlin hit all 18 greens and needed only 26 putts during a record-setting round that came one day before her 34th birthday.

Yuna Nishimura supplied the other big story, following an opening 63 with another 63 to reach 16 under and build a five-shot lead over Auston Kim, Mary Liu and Michelle Zhang. The 26-year-old, a six-time winner in Japan still seeking her first LPGA title, has put substantial distance between herself and the field heading into the final round. Charley Hull is another shot back at 10 under after rounds of 65 and 67.