Lottie Woad and Charley Hull, two of Europe’s hopefuls for the upcoming Solheim Cup, found themselves six strokes shy of the leaders at the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship, where American contender Allisen Corpuz was sharing the top spot as the weekend approached. The English pair were tied for 27th place, each sitting at three under par after the first round.
Woad, who had shown promise early on, slipped back with a one‑over 73, while Hull posted a solid two‑under 70. Despite their respectable scores, they remained well behind the leaders. Corpuz, however, fired a brilliant 67, propelling herself into a tie for first alongside Japan’s in‑form Miyu Yamashita and South Korea’s Hyo‑Joo Kim, both sitting at nine under. Yamashita, fresh off a victory the previous week on the LPGA Tour, continued to demonstrate why she’s a rising star, having matched the tour’s 72‑hole scoring record with a nine‑under performance at the CPKC Women’s Open just five days earlier.
In the second round Yamashita added another two‑under round, maintaining her nine‑under total. Corpuz and Kim each posted five‑under rounds on Friday, keeping the trio firmly at the top of the leaderboard. Trailing just a stroke behind the leaders were Morgane Metraux and Ruoning Yin, both carding 65s, and Jenny Bae with a 68. Nataliya Guseva and Emily Kristine Pedersen were seven under after posting 68 and 72 respectively.
Meanwhile, first‑round leader Sei Young Kim, after an opening 64, stumbled with a 74 on day two, dropping three strokes back. Beyond the FM Championship, other notable performances unfolded across the LPGA circuit. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, a key figure for the United States Solheim Cup team, recorded a second consecutive 72, comfortably making the cut at the final pre‑Solheim Cup event in the Netherlands, scheduled for September 11 and broadcast live on Sky Sports.
European captain Anna Nordqvist also secured her place for the weekend in what will be her final competitive appearance before retirement. The Swedish veteran recovered from a shaky opening 74 with an impressive 68, showcasing the experience and resilience she brings to the European side. In Ireland, South African golfer Casandra Alexander widened her lead at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, pulling five strokes ahead after a second‑round 66 that brought her to 15 under par for the tournament. Alexander began the event with a spectacular nine‑under 63 on Thursday—a record for the Palmer South Course at The K Club—and continued her aggressive play with an eagle‑birdie‑birdie stretch on holes 10, 11, and 12.
After a 32‑stroke front nine, she added a second eagle on the third hole, a bogey on the sixth, and a birdie on the seventh, demonstrating a blend of power and precision. She now leads compatriots Sara Kouskova, who posted a 66, and Brianna Navarrosa, who carded a 65, by five shots.
Reflecting on her round, Alexander admitted, “It wasn’t as tidy as yesterday. I left some putts short and had a few awkward wedge shots, but overall it was a good day. Following a record‑setting round is always tough, and two eagles helped me stay in the zone.
I’m very happy with a six‑under round.” On the Irish side, Canice Screene emerged as the top Irish finisher, tied for eighth after a string of birdies on seven of her final twelve holes secured her a 67. Leona Maguire, another Irish hopeful, was tied for 26th after posting a second consecutive one‑under‑par 71.
Fans can continue to follow the drama of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and the FM Championship throughout the weekend via Sky Sports’ live coverage, with Saturday’s action beginning at 2:30 pm on Sky Sports Golf. Those who prefer streaming can access the coverage without a contract through NOW, and Sky Sports also offers a range of deals for golf enthusiasts.
For golfers looking to experience the courses themselves, Sky Sports partners with over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, offering competitive pricing and easy booking. Simply enter a course name, city, or postal code on the platform to find the perfect tee time. Overall, the FM Championship continues to shape the narrative heading into the Solheim Cup, with European players striving to close the gap on their American rivals. While Hull and Woad still have work to do, the performances of Corpuz, Yamashita, and Kim illustrate the high‑level competition that both teams will face in September.
The upcoming weeks will be crucial for final selections, strategy discussions, and the mental preparation required for one of women’s golf’s most prestigious team events.