Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea held on to the lead at the halfway point of the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Friday, even after a 2-over-par 74, AAP and The Herald Business reported.

Choi opened with an 8-under 64 on Thursday to take the lead, The Herald Business reported. On Friday, she made two birdies and four bogeys to fall to 6 under for the tournament, The Herald Business reported. That left her two strokes ahead of the field.

Her trouble was on the greens. She needed 38 putts on Friday after taking just 22 on Thursday, The Herald Business said. She missed only one fairway and three greens in regulation.

"I'm not in perfect shape, but I'm still holding the lead," Choi said, according to The Herald Business. "I really want to get my first win."

Choi has 12 wins on the Korean LPGA Tour but none on the LPGA Tour, despite four runner-up finishes, the outlet reported. Her career LPGA earnings of $7,231,117 are the most of any player without a win on the tour, it said.

Australia's Grace Kim, the 2025 Evian Championship winner, shot an even-par 72 and is tied for second at 4 under, AAP reported. She is tied with Amy Yang of South Korea, who shot a 71.

AAP described "a gusting day of rough scoring." Defending champion and world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul is tied for seventh at 2 under after a 73. "It was so tough. It was brutal out there," she said, according to AAP.

The event opens the LPGA Tour's Asian swing, AAP reported. Kim is 62nd in the season points race, AAP said, and only the top 60 qualify for the Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, in November.

The third round is Saturday in Shanghai.

What we know: Choi leads at 6 under after 36 holes, two shots ahead of Kim and Yang.
What we don't: Whether Choi can hold on through the weekend for her first LPGA Tour win.