Hye-Jin Choi Holds Two-Shot Lead at Buick LPGA Shanghai

SHANGHAI, October 16, 2026 — Hye-Jin Choi maintained her position at the top of the leaderboard at the Buick LPGA Shanghai after navigating a difficult second round at Sheshan Golf Club on Friday. The South Korean golfer carded a 2-over-par 74 but retained a two-stroke advantage heading into the weekend.

Choi’s two-round total of 6-under-par 138 kept her ahead of a competitive field at the sixth edition of the tournament. After opening with an impressive 8-under 64 on Thursday, she faced a much tougher test during the second round, when challenging course conditions made low scores difficult to achieve.

Amy Yang and Grace Kim were among the players positioned closest to the leader, both sitting two strokes behind Choi at 4-under par according to the second-round report from the Associated Press. Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul also remained in contention, although she finished Friday four shots behind the leader.

The developing leaderboard sets up an important weekend in Shanghai, where Choi is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory. Despite having 12 professional wins in South Korea, the 27-year-old has yet to convert her talent into a title on the LPGA’s premier international circuit.

The second round demonstrated that maintaining a lead can be as demanding as building one. Choi’s advantage narrowed from three strokes to two, but she remained in control of the tournament as the field prepared for the final two rounds.

Hye-Jin Choi Maintains Her Lead Despite a Difficult Round

Choi entered Friday with considerable momentum after producing one of the strongest performances of the opening round. Her 64 on Thursday gave her a three-shot cushion and placed immediate pressure on the players chasing her.

However, the second round presented a different challenge. Choi returned a 74, two strokes over par, as Sheshan Golf Club tested the field with its demanding layout and difficult putting surfaces.

The change in scoring did not erase the advantage she had established on the opening day. Her combined score of 138 left her six shots under par for the tournament, enough to preserve the outright lead.

The ability to remain ahead after a less productive round could prove significant as the competition progresses. Golf tournaments frequently change direction over four rounds, and a player who begins with a substantial advantage does not necessarily maintain it without pressure.

For Choi, Friday was about limiting the damage rather than repeating Thursday’s scoring pace. Although she surrendered some of her lead, she avoided losing the top position.

That distinction is important at a venue where only a small number of players managed to finish their second rounds under par. With the leaderboard remaining tightly packed behind her, Choi’s two-shot advantage gives her a valuable position but leaves little room for complacency.

Why Sheshan Golf Club Is Testing the LPGA Field

The 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai marks a significant change for the tournament because it is being played at Sheshan Golf Club, a venue known for its long par-four holes and small, undulating greens.

Those characteristics can make scoring difficult even for experienced professionals. Long par-four holes demand accurate tee shots and strong approach play, while smaller greens leave less room for error when players attempt to reach the putting surface in regulation.

The undulating greens add another layer of difficulty. Golfers must account not only for distance but also for the direction and speed of their putts. A shot that finishes on the green may still leave an uncomfortable attempt if the ball stops on the wrong side of a slope.

Such conditions can quickly turn a promising round into a struggle. Players who miss their intended landing areas may find it difficult to recover, while even accurate approaches can leave challenging putts.

Friday’s scoring reflected those difficulties, with only a handful of rounds finishing under par, according to the Associated Press report.

For Choi, the challenge will be to adapt her approach to the course rather than chase the aggressive scoring numbers she produced in the opening round. Careful course management, accurate iron play and reliable putting could become increasingly important over the weekend.

The venue has previously hosted the HSBC Champions tournament 11 times when the event was part of the World Golf Championships. Its history of hosting elite professional golf provides a demanding setting for the LPGA Tour’s visit.

With two rounds remaining, the course itself could play a decisive role in determining whether Choi extends her advantage or faces a stronger challenge from the chasing group.

Amy Yang and Grace Kim Lead the Pursuit

While Choi remained in first place, Amy Yang and Grace Kim kept themselves within striking distance after completing their second rounds.

Yang carded a 71, while Kim returned a 72. Both reached 4-under par for the tournament, leaving them two strokes behind the leader in the Associated Press report published on October 16.

Their positions provide a clear incentive heading into the weekend. A two-shot deficit can be overcome quickly in professional golf, particularly when conditions are difficult enough to produce mistakes across the field.

Yang brings substantial experience to the challenge. Her ability to remain close to the lead through two rounds makes her one of the players to watch as the tournament develops.

Kim, meanwhile, also has an opportunity to build on her steady performance. Remaining near the top of the leaderboard allows her to approach the third round with a realistic chance of challenging for the title.

Neither player needs to make up the entire deficit immediately. A strong start on Saturday, combined with careful management of the course’s difficult holes, could place additional pressure on Choi.

The chasing group will also need to consider the conditions rather than focus exclusively on the leader’s score. If Sheshan continues to make birdies difficult to find, avoiding costly bogeys may be just as important as producing spectacular shots.

That dynamic could turn the third round into a tactical contest, with players balancing the need to gain ground against the risk of losing positions.

Jeeno Thitikul Remains in Contention

Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul remains another important name in the Buick LPGA Shanghai conversation.

The Thai star shot a 73 in the second round and stood four strokes behind Choi, according to the Associated Press report. Although she faced a larger deficit than Yang and Kim, her position left room for a weekend comeback.

Thitikul won the 2025 edition of the Shanghai tournament after defeating Minami Katsu in a five-hole playoff. That dramatic finish established her as the defending champion returning to the event in 2026.

Her recent form also gives her a reason to remain confident. Earlier in October, she won the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii, securing her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the season and the 11th of her career.

Those achievements underline her ability to compete for major prizes, even when the opening rounds do not unfold perfectly.

However, defending a title requires more than relying on previous success. Thitikul must first reduce the gap to Choi and then position herself for a realistic challenge during the final round.

Four strokes can be a manageable deficit over 36 holes, but the course’s difficult scoring conditions could limit the number of opportunities available to make up ground.

If Choi struggles again on Saturday, the defending champion could move closer to the lead. Conversely, if the South Korean recovers her opening-round form, Thitikul may need an exceptional performance to close the gap.

Her progress will therefore be one of the central storylines to follow as the tournament enters its decisive phase.

Hye-Jin Choi’s Search for a First LPGA Tour Victory

Beyond the immediate leaderboard, the tournament represents an important opportunity for Choi to achieve a milestone in her professional career.

The South Korean has already collected 12 victories in her home country, demonstrating a record of success before and alongside her career on the international circuit. Yet she is still searching for her first LPGA Tour title.

That distinction gives her performance in Shanghai added significance. A victory would represent more than a successful week; it would mark a breakthrough on one of the most competitive stages in women’s professional golf.

Choi joined the LPGA Tour in 2022. Her experience on the circuit has given her opportunities to compete against leading international players, but converting a strong tournament position into a championship requires consistency across all four rounds.

Her opening 64 showed the scoring ability needed to lead a tournament. Friday’s 74, meanwhile, highlighted the difficulties that can arise when conditions change and opponents begin to close the gap.

The next challenge is to combine those lessons into a composed weekend performance.

Choi does not necessarily need to reproduce another round of eight-under golf. With a two-shot lead already established, steady play may be enough to keep her in front, provided she manages mistakes and takes advantage of suitable birdie opportunities.

At the same time, she cannot afford to become overly defensive. Players such as Yang, Kim and Thitikul have the experience and ability to capitalize if the leader loses momentum.

The pressure of pursuing a first LPGA victory can make the closing rounds particularly demanding. Each decision carries greater significance when a player knows that a strong position could lead to a career-defining result.

For Choi, maintaining a clear focus on each hole rather than the final outcome may be crucial to handling that pressure.

Buick LPGA Shanghai Opens the Asian Swing

The Shanghai tournament also holds a broader place in the LPGA Tour’s late-season schedule.

The Buick LPGA Shanghai is the first of four tournaments on the tour’s Asian Swing, which continues with events in South Korea, Malaysia and Japan over the following three weeks.

The stretch gives players an important opportunity to build momentum before the season progresses toward its conclusion. Strong performances can improve confidence, strengthen leaderboard positions and provide valuable opportunities to compete for titles.

The 2026 Shanghai event features 81 players, including 15 members of the China Golf Association, according to the LPGA’s tournament preview. The competition offers international players and regional representatives an opportunity to compete at Sheshan Golf Club.

This year’s venue change also gives the tournament a fresh setting. Sheshan’s demanding course conditions have already influenced the scoring during the first two rounds, creating a contest in which patience and precision are likely to remain important.

For the leading players, the tournament provides an opportunity to establish momentum at the beginning of the Asian Swing. For Choi in particular, the timing could hardly be more important as she seeks her first victory on the LPGA Tour.

A successful result in Shanghai would also give her a strong platform for the remainder of the international stretch.

What to Watch in the Final Two Rounds

The third round is likely to provide the clearest indication of whether Choi can turn her early advantage into a serious championship bid.

Several factors could determine the outcome.

• Course management: Sheshan’s long par-four holes will continue to demand accurate approaches and careful decision-making.
• Putting performance: The small, undulating greens could make short-game execution particularly important.
• Pressure from the chasing group: Yang and Kim are only two strokes behind, while Thitikul remains four shots back.
• Consistency: Choi must recover from her second-round 74 without allowing one difficult round to define the remainder of her tournament.
• Weekend momentum: A strong third round could give the leader additional breathing room before Sunday’s final round.

The leaderboard remains close enough that one exceptional round could change the tournament’s direction. At the same time, the challenging course may reward players who remain patient and avoid major mistakes.

For spectators, that combination creates an intriguing contest. Choi has the advantage of leading from the front, but the players behind her have sufficient time to mount a challenge.

The outcome may depend less on who produces the most spectacular shots and more on who handles the difficult holes most effectively.

Conclusion: Choi Holds the Advantage, but the Battle Is Far From Over

Hye-Jin Choi remains the player to beat at the 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai after finishing the second round at 6-under par. Her 74 on Friday was a significant contrast to Thursday’s 64, yet her early scoring advantage continues to provide a foundation for a potential breakthrough victory.

Amy Yang and Grace Kim are positioned just two strokes behind, while defending champion Jeeno Thitikul remains close enough to make the weekend interesting.

The demanding conditions at Sheshan Golf Club suggest that the leaderboard could continue to shift. Accurate iron play, confident putting and disciplined course management will be essential as the field moves toward Sunday’s conclusion.

For Choi, the objective is clear: maintain her composure, limit mistakes and give herself the best possible chance to claim her first LPGA Tour title.

Her two-shot lead places her in a promising position, but the decisive work remains ahead. The next two rounds will determine whether she can turn a strong opening into the biggest international victory of her professional career.