By: Max Bechtoldt
Grace Kim is in fantastic position to win her second career LPGA Tour event in Los Angeles at the JM Eagle LA Open, opening up a four-stroke lead after round two.
Coming into the day, I believed an even par round would be good enough to potentially keep Kim in the lead. That wasn’t too far off, as her incredible round was an aberration in the afternoon winds. If she had shot even par, she would be in second place, one back of Maja Stark.
She shot -5. Kim’s round hit its stride on her second nine.
Teeing off on the back nine, Kim bogeyed the par 3 12th hole, but immediately responded with an eagle on 13 and birdie on 14. On the front nine, Kim played one of the least stressful rounds in recent memory. It seemed like every hole she had a makable putt for birdie. She converted on 3, 6 and 7.
Kim has missed only two fairways and six greens over the week. If her ball striking continues at that pace, she should be able to cruise to another victory.
With a win, Kim would become the third Australian to win at Wilshire Country Club in just the sixth event played at the course.
