Paula Reto bounced back with a second round of one-under-par 71 on Friday to make the cut in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington State.
Reto, who had battled to a five-over 77 in the first round, and was in a share of 107th, climbed into a share of 52nd at the halfway stage at four-over. She was 10 strokes off the lead which was shared by American Sarah Schmelzel and Korea’s Amy Yang. That duo, at six-under, had a two-stroke edge over Jin Young Ko of Korea, Hinako Shibuno of Japan, and first-round leader Lexi Thompson of the United States.
Reto shared 52nd with countrywoman Ashleigh Buhai, who had a second round of three-over-par 75. There were 10 other players on four-over, and the cut fell at five-over.
The 30-year-old Schmelzel, winless in six seasons on the LPGA Tour, birdied her final two holes for a five-under 67.
Schmelzel made a 10-footer on the par-three 17th hole and stayed aggressive on the par-five 18th, knocking her three-wood short of the green and chipping to a foot for a tap-in birdie and the low round of the championship.
“Just staying really patient out there and aggressive off the tee was kind of our game plan this week,” Schmelzel said. “I drove (the ball) really well, so fortunately able to take advantage of having some shorter irons in today.”
Nelly Korda, the number one player in the world shot 69 in the first round. She bogeyed each of her first four holes in the second round to fall to one-over. She finished with an 81 to miss the cut.
