Japan’s Hinako Shibuno is the 36-hole leader after the second round of the 2022 Chevron Championship in Rancho Mirage, California. After the second round, Shibuno is at -9, and has a one-stroke lead on Americans Annie Park and Jennifer Kupcho, as well as Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit.
Shibuno had seven birdies and one bogey in the second round. She birdied the first, second, fifth, sixth, ninth, 10th, and 13th holes, and bogeyed the eighth hole. Another reason why Shibuno has the lead is because she recorded a first round eagle on the par-five second hole in the first round on Thursday. Shibuno also had a birdie on the seventh and 18th holes in round one, to go along with a bogey on the fifth hole.
Shibuno is a major champion. She won the 2019 Women’s British Open at Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, England. What was most spectacular about Shibuno’s win was the fact she was playing for the first time outside of Japan.
Expect strong play in the final two rounds from Tavatanakit. Don’t forget, Tavatanakit is the defending champion when the tournament was known as the ANA Inspiration, where she beat a surging Lydia Ko of New Zealand by two strokes. Last year Tavatanakit had a 72-hole score of -18. Ko was in second at -16, but shot a sizzling fourth round score of 10-under-par, to get back into contention.
There are four other golfers in contention at this time. South Korea’s Hyo-joo Kim and Sei-young Kim are each at -7, while American Ally Ewing and Denmark’s Nanna Madsen are each at -6.
