NORTON, Mass. — Miyu Yamashita was back on top of an LPGA Tour leaderboard days after tying the tour’s 72-hole scoring record in a nine-stroke victory in Canada.
The diminutive Japanese star shot a 2-under 70 on Friday at TPC Boston for a share of the lead in the FM Championship with Hyo Joo Kim and U.S. Solheim Cup qualifier Allisen Corpuz.
Kim and Corpuz each shot 67 to join the 4-foot-11 Yamashita at 9-under 135.
Yamashita has four LPGA Tour titles, also winning the Meijer LPGA Classic in June in Michigan after taking the AIG Women’s Open in Wales and Maybank Championship in Malaysia last season as the rookie of the year. She has 13 Japan LPGA victories.
Kim also has two victories this season, the Founders Cup and Ford Championship.
“It’s been a while since my name has been on the leaderboard,” Kim said.
Morgane Metraux (65) and Ruoning Yin (65) and Jenny Bae (68) were a stroke behind the leaders. Nataliya Guseva (68) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (72) were 7 under.
First-round leader Sei Young Kim followed her opening 64 with a 74 to fall three strokes back.
Top-ranked Nelly Korda had her second straight 72 to make the cut on the number in the final event before the Solheim Cup matches in the Netherlands.
European captain Anna Nordqvist advanced to the weekend in her final event on the LPGA Tour. The Swede rebounded from an opening 74 with a 68.
“I couldn’t really sleep last night because it was so much emotions running through my head,” she said. “It was really tough yesterday afternoon with those gusty winds.”
Corpuz wrapped up the last automatic place on the U.S. team last week in Canada.
“I’ve been hitting the ball really well and putting myself in the right spots.” Corpuz said. “Even when I missed had a good look at a good up-and-down for par. I think this course is just one you just stay patient and you’ll get the opportunities as they come.”
The $4.4 million purse is the largest outside of the majors on the LPGA Tour.
