Kim Sei-young, the world's 10th-ranked golfer and second-highest among South Korean women, struggled in the first round with a tied-89th finish at 2-over 74. She faced serious concerns about making the cut.
However, Kim rallied in the second round of the LPGA Tour Fortinet Founders Cup at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club (par 72) in Menlo Park, California, on Sunday. She shot 2-under to finish tied for 56th at even-par 144, clearing the cut line. Without her birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5), she would have missed the cut. She made it by the narrowest of margins.
Yun I-na's cut passage was even more precarious. The Founders Cup holds bitter memories for Yun, marking her first career cut miss as a rookie last year. That early setback led to a difficult season. This year's cut passage carries special significance.
Yun started strong with a tied-7th finish on day one but struggled throughout the second round. She birdied the second hole (par 4) but then faced a difficult stretch. Bogeys came on holes 3 (par 4) and 5 (par 5). She recovered with a birdie on hole 6 (par 4) but gave it back with a bogey on hole 7 (par 5). Her troubles continued on the back nine with bogeys on holes 11, 12 (both par 4), 14 (par 4), and 17 (par 3). She dropped to 69th place. But Yun birdied the final 18th hole (par 5) to dramatically clear the cut line.
New Zealand-born Lydia Ko also faced elimination after a bogey on hole 13 (par 3) but parred her final five holes to advance to the third round. Ko had a difficult day with both bunker shots resulting in bogeys and 32 putts total.
The tied-56th group included top-ranked players such as Chisato Iwai (Japan), Rose Zhang, and Lilia Vu (both USA).
South Korean golfers continued their strong performance at the top of the leaderboard. Kim Hyo-joo, the world's 8th-ranked player and highest among Koreans, carded four birdies and two bogeys for a 2-under 70. She holds the solo lead at 11-under 133, four strokes ahead of second-place Gaby Lopez (Mexico) at 7-under 137. Choi Hye-jin, who shot 2-under, and Lim Jin-hee, who shot even-par 72, share third place at 6-under 138 in contention for the title.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand) and world No. 2 Nelly Korda (USA), both of whom struggled on day one, surged up the leaderboard. Thitikul shot 6-under and Korda shot 4-under to join the tied-3rd group and begin their pursuit of the lead. Australian-born Minjee Lee, who shot 2-under, also sits in the tied-3rd group.
Yoo Hae-ran (2-under), Jeon In-ji (1-under), and Lee Dong-eun (3-over) share 17th place at 4-under 140, eyeing a top-10 finish. Lee Jeong-eun6, who qualified through Monday qualifying, sits tied for 31st at 3-under 141 alongside Kim A-rim.