The 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary is proving to be a formidable challenge for the 156-player field.
With heavy crosswinds, dry conditions, and a tough course setup, the scoring average for the second round reached 75.034, even higher than the first round’s 74.481.
Despite these tough conditions, Lauren Coughlin managed to score a 2-under 70 on Friday, maintaining her first-round lead into the second day.
This marks Coughlin’s first 36-hole lead in her seven-year LPGA Tour career, which has seen significant improvement this season.
Coughlin’s year includes impressive major championship finishes, with a T3 at The Chevron Championship and a solo fourth at The Amundi Evian Championship.
Her career resurgence follows a challenging rookie season in 2018 when she lost her card, but her perseverance has paid off.
“I think grit is something, and being mentally tougher than a lot of people is something that I’ve learned over the years just because I’ve had to work really hard and persevere a lot throughout my career,” Coughlin reflected after Friday’s round.
“I think that’s why I can hang in there, and I don’t get too down on myself. I always keep fighting.
When it gets hard, that’s fine to me. I’m going to keep fighting the whole time.”
Coughlin’s determination was evident as she started strong with three birdies in her first five holes but then parred the remaining holes except for a bogey on the 11th.
The back nine at Earl Grey Golf Club proved particularly challenging, with a scoring average of over two strokes above par, while the front nine averaged less than a stroke over par.
Coughlin’s steady play on the back nine, with seven consecutive pars, allowed her to finish the day at 6-under overall, holding a one-stroke lead.
“I think I handled it really well, overall. It was really difficult to judge how far the ball was going to go with the wind and the crosswind and how firm the greens got.
And they had some tough pins, especially considering the direction of the wind,” Coughlin explained.
“I think I only had one bad swing on 11 tee. Other than that, I feel like I hit everything really, really solid all day.
I putted extremely well. My speed control was on pretty much all day. It was a super solid round.
I think Terry (McNamara, her caddie) told me it was probably a better round than you think you realise because I felt like I could’ve got a couple more. Again, I hung in there and got a good round out of it.”
Close behind Coughlin is two-time 2024 winner Hannah Green, tied with LPGA Tour sophomore Haeran Ryu, both just one stroke back.
Ryu’s 3-under 69 in the second round was notable for her seven birdies, the most in the field on Friday, despite four bogeys, including a costly one on the 18th that prevented her from sharing the lead.
Green posted a 70 in the second round, with a mix of five birdies and three bogeys, showcasing her resilience throughout the day.
Major champions Lilia Vu, Lydia Ko, and Jennifer Kupcho are also in contention, sitting at T4, while Ryann O’Toole, who matched the best round of the day with Moriya Jutanugarn’s 4-under 68, is among the group tied for seventh at 2-under.
Sixty-eight players made the cut at 4-over, including popular Canadian players Brooke Henderson and Maude-Aimee Leblanc, leading the local contingent at 1-over overall.
