Bae grabs lead but Wang makes charge in Mexican heat
The American's unflappable demeanor and sharp course management left her a stroke ahead of her compatriot Brianna Do and China's Miranda Wang, whose scintillating second-round 65 shook up the leaderboard at the $2.5 million LPGA event.
The 23-year-old Bae, in her rookie season, leaned on a steely mindset to navigate the breezy, jungle-lined layout.
"Today I had the same mindset as yesterday. Just keep calm and stay focused and try to stay in the present," she said.
"It tells me I can still score despite what conditions I'm faced with. I feel pretty good heading into the weekend," she said after ending her round with a birdie on the 18th.
The chasing pack includes China's Yan Jing, South Korea's Lee Jeong-eun, Jenny Shin, Choi Hye-jin, and Australia's Gabriela Ruffels, all at four-under (140).
Mexico's Maria Fassi, at three-over (147), led the home contingent, cheered by a lively local crowd.
Bae said she had been able to cope with the windy conditions that troubled some of her rivals.
"I've gotten a good grasp of the wind. That's a really big advantage out here," she said.
The stunning Riviera Maya backdrop also helped keep her spirit high.
"I've never played on a golf course with such beautiful scenery. Even if I make a mistake, I look around and feel refreshed," she added.
Wang was in sensational form delivering a bogey-free 7-under-par round of 65 but said it had been tough in the intense heat.
"I was really drinking a lot of water, and my caddie did a good job just feeding me water all the time. I think that's the most important.
"It's windy out there so there is some good breeze. Just enjoy the breeze and drink enough water," she said.
sev/jgc
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
North Carolina lands Titleist retail shop
The host site for the 2024 U.S. Open Golf Championship and future host site in 2029 is giving fans of the sport another thing to do in Moore County, continuing its investment in elevating guest experiences. ALSO READ: Trump plays golf in Scotland while protesters take to the streets and decry his visit Pinehurst Resort announced July 24 that Titleist, the Massachusetts-based golf equipment brand that has come to be synonymous with professional golf, is opening 'an immersive fitting and retail experience' at the resort's main campus. The store is set to open in September. Jeremy Stone, Titleist's senior vice president of golf ball marketing and U.S. sales, said in a statement that this shop will be the 'first U.S.-based Titleist retail experience of its kind.' Read more on CBJ's website here. VIDEO: PGA Championship bringing financial boom to Charlotte
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Victor Dubuisson returns! Frenchman wins on Alps Tour, refuses paycheck
Victor Dubuisson, a former DP World Tour champion and 2014 European Ryder Cup star who retired at age 33, played his first competitive golf since September 2023 and made it look as easy as riding a bicycle. The 35-year-old Frenchman returned to the Alps Tour, a developmental circuit, and carded rounds of 62-65-61 at Golf de Biarritz Le Phare in his homeland. Then he birdied the second playoff hole to edge Spain's Jorge Maicas and win the Biarritz Cup. But according to Dubuisson declined to accept his winner's share of the €47,500 prize purse after being in the field as a sponsor's exemption. Calling it 'a gesture of personal principle, Dubuisson refused his €7,600 winner's check, which went to Maicas. Dubuisson was the No. 1 amateur in 2009 before turning pro and had the potential to do the same in the pay-for-play ranks but the life of a touring pro wasn't for him. 'I feel like I've reached my limits and I know I can find pleasure elsewhere, I'm convinced of that,' the enigmatic Dubuisson said during an interview in December 2023 with France's L'Equipe. 'I spent 15 years alone on the Tour, curled up on myself. I missed contact with people. So it's just simple human relationships around golf that I want to have.' It appears his game has little rust and time will tell if this Alps Tour victory kickstarts a full-fledged comeback bid. 'It is unclear at this stage whether Dubuisson plans to build on this success and target a full comeback,' reported, noting that for the past 18 months he has been running clinics for holiday makers in Tenerife at the Abama Golf Resort. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Victor Dubuisson returns, wins on Alps Tour, refuses prize money
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lottie Woad, a former Florida State star, wins the Women's Scottish Open in her pro debut
IRVINE, Scotland (AP) — Lottie Woad tapped in one final birdie, plucked the ball out of the cup and gave a simple wave to the crowd as if she had done this before. The English star made it look easy Sunday when she won the Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut. Woad never flinched when Hyo Joo Kim made a charge on a windy day at Dundonald Links, closing with a 4-under 68 for a three-shot victory. Woad is the second player in three years to win on the LPGA Tour in her pro debut, following Rose Zhang in the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National in 2023. Woad finished at 21-year 267 and earned $300,000. 'I think it's quite hard to do that, but very special to win in my first event,' Woad said. 'Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots.' Kim had opened with four birdies in seven holes, and when the South Korean added birdies on the 11th and 12th, she shared the lead with Woad. Woad was unflappable, making birdie on the 13th and 14th holes to regain control and dropping only one shot late in her round. She finished with a three-quarter wedge over a winding burn to 2 feet for birdie and a reserved celebration. Her victory is certain to get everyone's attention in women's golf. Woad was the No. 1 amateur in the women's ranking when she won the Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour three weeks ago. Then, she finished one shot out of a playoff in the Evian Championship in France, an LPGA major. That gave her enough points for an LPGA card, so the 21-year-old decided to forgo her final year at Florida State and turn pro. Now she has an LPGA title — the Women's Scottish Open is co-sanctioned with the LET — as she heads south for Royal Porthcawl in Wales for the final major of the year in the Women's British Open. Nelly Korda, who played the opening three rounds with Woad, ran off four straight birdies on the front nine until missing some putts that stalled her momentum. She shot 71 and finished eight shots behind, leaving the American winless this year after a seven-win season in 2024. Julia Lopez Ramirez closed with a 65 and tied for third with Sei Young Kim (73), earning the Spaniard one of three spots available in the Women's British Open next week. The other spots went to Paula Reto of South Africa and Mary Liu of China. Woad first made a name for herself when she won the Augusta National Women's Amateur last year with birdies on three of the last four holes. She said that was more pressure than she felt in her pro debut. 'I think Augusta, that was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win,' Woad said. 'So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this.' The only difference this week was getting paid for it. Along with winning the Women's Irish Open, Woad tied for 31st in the U.S. Women's Open this year and tied for 10th in the Women's British Open at St. Andrews last summer. She heads to Wales hopeful of keeping the momentum. 'It's been pretty good, yeah. I don't really know how to describe it,' Woad said. 'Just been shooting low scores, which is always nice.' ___
