Thursday was a day for scoring at the Buick LPGA Classic. Friday was about survival.
The wind picked up and the golf course confirmed its enamel as the first stop of the LPGA’s late-season Asian swing reached its midpoint. Hye-Jin Choi managed the circumstances nicely enough to keep a two-shot lead in her pursuit of a first LPGA title to go with the dozen she has won in South Korea.
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Grace Kim was blissful just to grasp around.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 16: Grace Kim of Australia discusses with her caddie as she prepares to play a shot from the sixth tee during the second spherical of the Buick LPGA Shanghai 2026 at Sheshan Golf Club on October 16, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)
The Australian main champion did precisely that, highlighted by a hole-out birdie at the fifteenth. Kim battled her method to an even-par 72, leaving her at 4 under and just two pictures off the lead heading into the weekend.
“This is a beast of a golf course,” Kim said. “And with the wind picking up today, like, I just had to play as patient as possible. You know, we had a bit of gusts here and there and a few waits as well, so I feel like the momentum kind of kept getting stopped.”
More: LPGA embarks on 4 week Asian swing without world’s No. 1 participant
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The wind did more than ship scores climbing. It modified the method gamers had to method a course that already had lots of size.
“I think the wind picking up definitely made a huge difference,” Kim said. “A couple of tees were up today, but the long holes, the holes that were already long, made it even longer with the wind strength. So having 3-wood into 18, I’ve never been so nervous, I think, this week. So things like that. I think make sure that you really try to stay in it and stay present.”
For Kim, the take a look at felt acquainted. She owns two LPGA victories, including the 2025 Evian Championship, and said Friday’s circumstances gave the week the really feel of another main championship.
“Yes, definitely. I can tell you that for sure,” Kim said. “Obviously there is a history of the men playing and I think it definitely suits the men a little bit more than us. But we are always up for a challenge, so, yeah, I guess we’re just going to have to stick it out for the weekend.”
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The week began with 81 gamers but there have been 4 withdrawals. Through 36 holes, only 9 golfers are under par. Of the 147 rounds posted so far over two days, there have been 12 scores in the 80s and just 12 in the 60s.
Shanghai is only the starting of the LPGA’s four-week Asian swing. After China, the tour strikes to South Korea, Malaysia and Japan over the next three weeks.
Tim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek and the golf coordinator for the USA Today Network.
This article initially appeared on Golfweek: Grace Kim hangs around, Hye-Jin Choi holds lead as wind batters LPGA subject
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