Hwang Sets Record and Leads the LOTTE Championship with 62 Strokes

Youmin Hwang Dominates the LOTTE Championship with a Spectacular Round

HONOLULU – Youmin Hwang stood out at the LOTTE Championship, securing a place in the final group for the next round after an impressive performance. Hwang, who played in the final group from the first tee on Thursday, completed the second round with a score of 10 under par, recording a 62, the best mark in the four years that the tournament has been held at the Hoakalei Country Club. Hwang started his game with an eagle and a birdie, after a small stumble on the fourth hole, he achieved eight additional birdies, reaching a total of 15 under par and establishing a three-stroke lead with two rounds to go. Invited by a sponsor, Hwang has two victories on the Korean LPGA circuit.

“First of all, I surpassed my personal best score,” said Hwang, 22, originally from South Korea. “At the same time, I broke the course record, so I feel very good.”

Youmin Hwang

Hwang tied the tournament record of 62, set by Lizette Salas in the final round of 2013 and Cristie Kerr in the third round of 2017, both at the Ko Olina Golf Course. The first-round leader, Akie Iwai, from Japan, followed her opening 64 with a 68 in the afternoon session, joining American Jessica Porvasnik (65) at 12-under par. Porvasnik, a 30-year-old LPGA Tour rookie, played in the first group of the day off the first tee. “I just hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens, gave myself a lot of good opportunities and made some of them,” said Porvasnik, a former Ohio State player. Iwai played in a group with her twin sister Chisato, who was 8-under after a 66. The 23-year-old Japanese sisters have each won this year as rookies on the tour. Chisato stood out in Mayakoba in Mexico in May, and Akie won the Portland Classic in August. Nasa Hataoka of Japan and Gabriela Ruffels of Australia shot 69 to reach 10 under par. Nelly Korda, ranked second, was 8 under par after a 67 in the morning. After the event, the LPGA heads to Asia for tournaments for five consecutive weeks in Shanghai, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan.