Four players battled swirling winds to share the lead at the Lotte Championship, with Russia’s Nataliya Guseva making the day’s most spectacular shot.
Guseva, a 21-year-old former University of Miami standout, fired a 5-under 67 to reach 9-under par. She’s tied at the top with A Lim Kim, Ruixin Liu, and Yuri Yoshida at Hoakalei Country Club in Honolulu.
The highlight of the day came when Guseva holed out from 120 yards for eagle on the par-4 seventh hole.
"I was really trying to be in the present because it was super windy," Guseva said. "Anything could happen today – I could shoot a great round and not even make the cut."
The wind proved to be the day’s biggest challenge, with gusts keeping players guessing on every shot.
First-round leader A Lim Kim struggled late, dropping shots on her final two holes for a 69. She’s fighting for more than just this week’s trophy – Kim sits at No. 65 in the Race to CME Globe standings, needing to crack the top 60 to qualify for the season finale and its massive $4 million winner’s prize.
"Today feel like a little change the wind every time, every single hole," Kim said. "Some hole made mistake and some hole I think it’s great. So, that’s golf."
Ryann O’Toole made the biggest move up the leaderboard, shooting 66 to sit just one shot back at 8-under.
"I felt very comfortable out there," O’Toole said. "I like windy conditions."
Auston Kim also posted a 66, putting her two shots off the lead at 7-under par.
With more wind in the forecast, the weekend battle at Hoakalei could come down to who best handles Hawaii’s famous trade winds.
