South Korean Jiyai Shin recorded a 5-under 67 to grab a share of the lead at the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic on Friday.
She started the round a stroke behind opening-round leaders Nasa Hataoka and Miyu Yamashita of Japan at Seta Golf Course in Otsu in the western part of the country. Consecutive birdies on holes 15 through 17 sent Shin to the top of the leaderboard.
Hataoka shot a 68 on Friday to stand tied with Shin at 11-under 133 after two rounds. Yamashita (69) is one stroke back and has a solo hold on third place.
“Well, yeah, I’m pretty solid whole day,” said Shin, who is ranked No. 60 in the world. “And then I think I had a good focus on the golf course because the wind blowing hard and then they change every time, so hard to read the wind directions, but, you know, today I playing with Miyu Yamashita and Nasa Hataoka and they both playing pretty well on the LPGA, so before when I starting, I really excited to play with them.”
Three Japanese golfers sit two strokes off the lead at 9-under and in a tie for fourth place — Shuri Sakuma, who finished the second round with a 66, along with Ai Suzuki (67) and Sayaka Takahashi (67).
Japan’s Yuna Araki followed her opening-round 70 with a 66 and is three strokes back a 8-under.
Yamashita dropped a stroke with a bogey on the par-3 third hole but recovered with four birdies on the back nine.
“In the first couple holes, the ball was pretty rough, putter,” Yamashita said. “In the back nine getting better.”
Still, she said she is playing some of her best golf of 2025.
“I’m still adjusting my swing a little bit, but I feel really comfortable with my swing and getting better and better, so that works very well.”
In all, three strokes separate seven players. Shin said she embraces the packed leaderboard.
“I really like it because I love playing with the pressure.
“…Now, I’m at the top, so I try to — I just keep focusing myself and my golf and just the results just following I think.”
“Just do my best,” she concluded.
