Sei Young Kim seized control at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Friday, carding her second straight 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead heading into the weekend at El Caballero Country Club.
The 33-year-old South Korean star made her move during the morning wave on the challenging, tree-lined layout. Kim opened with birdies on two of her first three holes before exploding on the back nine with five birdies over a seven-hole stretch.
"I just want to keep moving forward the next two days," Kim said. "I try to move forward whatever my position."
Kim's strong play comes at an opportune time, with next week's Chevron Championship in Houston marking the first major championship of the season. The Dallas area-based player has already tasted major success, capturing the 2020 KPMG Women's PGA Championship among her 13 LPGA Tour victories.
"I'm very much looking forward to next week," Kim said. "But I have two more days, so I just focus on this weekend."
First-round leader Chizzy Iwai of Japan sits tied for second alongside South Korea's Ina Yoon. Iwai followed her opening 63 with a solid 68, highlighted by three birdies in a four-hole stretch during her afternoon round.
The Japanese player remains confident in her aggressive approach heading into the weekend. "I like aggressive golf," Iwai said. "I think tomorrow I need to be aggressive."
Yoon produced the round of the day with a spectacular 64, highlighted by a record-setting front nine. Playing the back nine at El Caballero first, she torched the course with a 7-under 29 before adding another birdie on the par-5 seventh hole.
"I never shot 29 for nine holes in my life. It was unbelievable," Yoon said. "The back nine was little bummer."
Despite the disappointment with her closing nine, Yoon's career-best nine-hole score has her perfectly positioned for her first LPGA Tour victory.
Trailing by five shots are Jin Hee Im, Melanie Green, and Jessica Porvasnik, all sitting at 9-under par. Im and Green both posted rounds of 68, while Porvasnik signed for a 69.
Two-time defending champion Hannah Green of Australia sits six shots back at 8-under after a 69. The former Wilshire Country Club winner has enjoyed tremendous success this season with three worldwide victories, including the HSBC Women's World Championship on the LPGA Tour.
The tournament moved to El Caballero for the second consecutive year due to ongoing renovations at its traditional home venue, Wilshire Country Club.
Defending champion Ingrid Lindblad struggled in Friday's conditions, posting a 72 to fall to 3-under for the tournament. Lauren Coughlin, who captured victory two weeks ago at Shadow Creek, endured a difficult day with six bogeys in a disappointing 76 that dropped her to 2-under.
Among the amateur competitors, 17-year-old Asterisk Talley continues her impressive professional debut with a second consecutive 70, sitting at 4-under alongside Canada's Aphrodite Deng.
The field was reduced Friday as several notable players withdrew before the second round. Tour leader Hyo Joo Kim, who has captured two victories this season in consecutive weeks in the Bay Area and Arizona, pulled out after an opening 68. Minjee Lee and Hye-Jin Choi also withdrew before Friday's play.
With ideal scoring conditions expected through the weekend, Kim will need to maintain her aggressive mindset to hold off a talented field eager to claim victory before the season's first major championship.
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*Originally published on [Golf News Global](https://golfnews.global/article/sei-young-kim-takes-one-shot-lead-at-jm-eagle-la-championship). Visit for full coverage.*
