Somi Lee of South Korea surged into the lead at the halfway stage of the Evian Championship with an impressive six-under-par 65, moving her to 10-under overall. The 26-year-old now holds a one-shot advantage heading into the weekend in the fourth major of the LPGA season.
Lee’s round included six birdies and an eagle at the par-five ninth hole, offset by two bogeys. Her consistency and sharp iron play allowed her to navigate the challenges of the Evian Resort Golf Club, particularly on the notoriously tricky greens.
Speaking after her round, Lee highlighted the importance of managing distance control on the course. “This course is so beautiful, but the green is so tricky, so I’m just focused on distance,” she said. “Miss left, miss right—never mind. Just distance—was it perfect?”
Trailing Lee by a single stroke is Australia’s Grace Kim, who carded a steady three-under 68. Her round featured four birdies and a lone bogey, keeping her well in the hunt for her maiden major title.
American Jennifer Kupcho sits third on the leaderboard at eight-under-par. Her second round of 69 was eventful, marked by seven birdies and five bogeys. Though erratic at times, Kupcho’s aggressive play kept her within striking distance of the lead.
A tight cluster of players follow at seven-under, including Korea’s Hyo-Joo Choi, American Alison Lee, and South Africa’s Cara Alexander. Each of them produced solid rounds to stay within three strokes of the top spot.
Ireland’s Leona Maguire, who was among five co-leaders after a dramatic hole-in-one in the opening round, slipped slightly after posting an even-par 71. She remains in contention, four shots behind the leader at six-under overall. Maguire has shown great resilience and remains a strong contender with two rounds to play.
Also tied at six-under are Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels, Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, Japan’s Risa Takeda, and India’s Aditi Ashok. With the leaderboard tightly packed, the championship remains wide open.
England’s Lottie Woad continues to impress in her debut season, carding a round of 69 to reach five-under overall. Fellow Englishwoman Charlotte Gainer sits at four-under, while Bronte Law struggled to a two-over total after two rounds.
The Evian Championship, held in the scenic town of Évian-les-Bains in France, is the penultimate major of the women’s season. With the course offering both scoring opportunities and punishing hazards, the weekend rounds promise a thrilling conclusion as players battle for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.
With just four strokes separating the top dozen players, all eyes will be on how Somi Lee handles the pressure. Her calm demeanor and precision play have put her in a prime position, but with world-class talent chasing close behind, the path to victory remains far from certain.
