Grace Kim, Amy Yang Battle Wind To Chase LPGA Shanghai Lead

The wind turned nasty Friday at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, but major champions Grace Kim and Amy Yang weren't about to let difficult conditions knock them out of contention.

Both players survived a punishing second round at Sheshan Golf Club, finishing at four-under 140 and sharing second place, just two strokes behind tournament leader Hye-Jin Choi.

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And judging by the scoring, simply staying afloat was an accomplishment.

Kim, the Australian major champion, battled her way to an even-par 72 after opening the tournament with a 68. Her round featured two birdies and two bogeys, including a momentum-saving recovery from a greenside bunker at the par-4 15th.

After making an early birdie at No. 2, Kim surrendered shots at the fifth and 11th holes before her short game helped rescue the round.

Through 36 holes, she'd needed just 52 putts, tied for the third-fewest in the field.

But it wasn't just about putting. With gusting winds making club selection increasingly difficult, patience became every bit as important as execution.

"I just had to play as most patient as possible," Kim said afterward.

She acknowledged the constant interruptions made maintaining rhythm difficult, particularly with swirling winds turning already demanding holes into serious challenges.

Kim admitted that facing a lengthy approach into the 18th green with a 3-wood was particularly uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Yang delivered one of Friday's strongest performances.

The 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship winner carded a one-under 71, recording four birdies against three bogeys. She was one of only six players to break par during the second round and the only golfer among the top eight to do so.

Even more impressive, Yang was the only player in the field to post under-par scores in both opening rounds.

"Tough conditions out there today," Yang said. "Just kind of had to mentally stay in it."

That mentality could prove crucial over the final 36 holes.

Kim entered Shanghai having made 13 cuts in 17 LPGA starts this season, while Yang had advanced to the weekend in 11 of 16 tournaments.

Neither has enjoyed a particularly dominant 2026 campaign, but both have the major championship experience to handle difficult Sunday pressure.

Choi remains the player everyone is chasing at six-under, but her two-stroke advantage is hardly comfortable.

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With swirling winds, demanding approach shots and little margin for error, the Buick LPGA Shanghai could become a survival contest.

And Kim and Yang have already demonstrated they're prepared for the fight.