China’s Liu takes Chevron lead after albatross

The second-round leaderboard for the Chevron Championship

-7 Y Liu (Chn), -6 L Duncan, S Schmelzel (both US), M Saigo (Jpn), H Kim (Kor), -5 M de Roey (Bel), H Choi, H Ryu (both Kor), A Yin (US), W Zhang (Chn)

Selected: -3 G Hall (Eng), + 1 N Korda (US), L Ko (NZ), + 2 L Maguire (Ire), + 3 G Dryburgh (Sco), + 4 C Hull (Eng), L Woad (Eng)

On day two of the Chevron Championship, China’s Yan Liu shot a rare albatross, three-under-par on a single hole, to take the overall lead.

With a seven iron, Liu, 27, shot the hole from 170 yards at the par-five eighth hole.

She also had three bogeys on the front nine before posting a birdie and bogey to lead a group of four players by one shot.

Georgia Hall, England’s top female major, is still in contention for the season’s first women’s major after posting a 72-stroke lead in Texas.

A shot ahead of Liu are American Lindy Duncan and Sarah Schmelzel, Japanese Mao Saigo, and Hyo Joo Kim from South Korea.

Haeran Ryu and Liu both had overnight lead, but they both made a 74-under-par 74 to fall back joint-sixth for the tournament.

Weiwei Zhang of China was also playing five under after 15 holes in her second round because of bad lighting.

At four under, American Lexi Thompson, who has retired from full-time golf but still participates in some events, is in contention.

This weekend, Liu, who is aiming for her first major and LPGA Tour victory, will feel the pressure.

She said, “Definitely, I will feel a little bit, because this is a significant situation.”

Because I am a very emotional person, I know the course will be more difficult, so I think I should just be patient and composed.

To stay within striking distance of the lead, Hall finished the round with three bogeys, one double bogey, and four birdies.

Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland, Lottie Woad and Charley Hull, who had a shot ahead, slipped back to four over.

With nine players still waiting to complete their second round, all three will miss the cut, which is expected to be two over.

Korda’s 68, which included six birdies and two bogeys, places her within the cut line, giving her a slim chance of a remarkable comeback over the weekend.