Soo Bin Joo Dominates Windy Conditions to Lead ShopRite LPGA by Four Strokes

GALLOWAY, N.J. — In challenging, gusty conditions along the Atlantic coast, Soo Bin Joo delivered an impressive performance on Friday, carding a 3-under 68 at the ShopRite LPGA. She concluded her round with a long two-putt birdie on the 18th, extending her lead to four strokes by the day's end.

Currently ranked 252nd in the world, Joo's only previous professional victory came on the Epson Tour two years ago. She now stands at 8-under 134 after completing two rounds at the Seaview Hotel. “I was barely making pars on the golf course today and yesterday was like going for birdies on every single hole,” she noted, reflecting on her strategic shift between rounds.

Following Joo are Japanese twins Chizzy and Aki Iwai, each shooting 68, alongside Celine Boutier from France (72), South Korea's Somi Lee (69), and Israeli Laetitia Beck, who started the day with a lead but fell to a 75. Beck remarked, “Today was extremely windy, so definitely was much harder to judge club selections, and putts were also much harder. That’s where I pretty much struggled today. I didn’t make putts.”

In contrast, Joo excelled on the greens, requiring only 25 putts throughout her round. Despite an early setback on the first hole, where she admitted, “I almost shank my 3-wood on the first tee," she maintained her composure, adapting her game to the harsh conditions.

The challenging wind not only lengthened some holes on the Bay course but also complicated distance judgment even on holes with a tailwind. The cut for the tournament came at 3-over 145, with eight players unable to break 80 and only 11 finishing below 70, mostly in the calmer morning conditions. Notably, Charley Hull, the sole top-10 player in the field, missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 75.

With aspirations of winning her first LPGA title, Joo expressed excitement about her position: “I started playing golf because I want to win a tournament on LPGA, so it will be super fun, very exciting,” she said, though she humorously added, “But right now I just want to get a hot shower. So cold, yeah. Freezing.”