Minjee Lee is making waves at the 2025 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro, where she has surged to just one shot from the lead following a stellar second round. On Friday, April 18, 2025, the Australian star posted a flawless seven-under-par 65 at El Caballero Country Club, which included seven birdies and showcased her impressive skills on the course. With this performance, Lee is now challenging the joint leaders, Ashleigh Buhai and Ingrid Lindblad, who are both at 13 under.
Lindblad, a 25-year-old former college star from LSU, achieved a career-best 63 in her second round, while Buhai, the South African major winner, shot a solid 68 to maintain her position at the top. As Lee eyes her first victory since the BMW Ladies Championship in October 2023, she has been in strong form this season, already notching two top-five finishes, including a runner-up result at the Blue Bay LPGA last month.
The LA Championship was traditionally held at Wilshire Country Club, where Lee claimed victory in 2019, but this year it is taking place at El Caballero due to renovations at the original venue. Lee reflected on her performance, saying, "I think just being in the right spot off the tee and, obviously, just hitting good iron shots into the greens. Some of the greens are a little bit bigger, there are bigger landing spots." This insight highlights her strategic approach to the game and her adaptability to different course conditions.
Fellow Australians Hannah Green and Steph Kyriacou are also in the mix, both tied at 20th place with scores of eight under after shooting 67s in the second round. Green is gunning for her third consecutive LA Championship win, which adds an exciting layer to the competition. Meanwhile, Hira Naveed made the halfway cut with a score of four under, while several other players, including Cassie Porter and Grace Kim, missed out on the weekend play.
Ingrid Lindblad expressed her excitement about her performance, stating, "I feel like if you put the work in, like eventually it's going to show up. Obviously, it's hard to tell exactly when it's going to show up, but I feel like I've been working on good things in my golf game that I need to get better at. After a day like this, it shows that it paid off." Her words reflect the dedication and effort that goes into competing at such a high level.
Buhai, maintaining her lead for the second consecutive day, commented on the challenges of following a low round, saying, "It's always difficult to follow a low one, but I'm pretty happy how I played today. Pins were a little trickier, but still some that were gettable." This statement underscores the competitive nature of the tournament and the pressure that comes with leading.
Amidst her competitive spirit, Lee has also undergone significant changes in her equipment, which she attributes to her recent successes. Over the past few months, she has switched to a new long putter, wedges, and driver, all of which have contributed to her improved performance on the course. Notably, she shot a career-best 10-under 62 in the final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions with her new long putter earlier this season.
Lee elaborated on her equipment changes, saying, "Obviously, my putting because I've changed to the long putter since the beginning of the year. But a bit more on like my long game, my driver, and just the accuracy, I guess. I'm always constantly working on my same patterns to get a little bit better every day." This commitment to refining her game and adapting her equipment showcases her dedication and professionalism.
With her current form, Lee has already netted $414,700 through her first five events this season and could surpass her entire 2024 earnings of $881,900 with a victory at the LA Championship, where the winner takes home $562,500. She expressed her optimism, stating, "I feel like I've been improving week in, week out. I think I've been getting better every time I've been playing. I think having a little bit longer stretch of events I can get some momentum." This perspective highlights her confidence and determination as she heads into the final rounds of the tournament.
As the tournament progresses, fans are eagerly watching to see if Minjee Lee can capture her 11th LPGA Tour win, adding to her impressive resume. With her strong performance thus far, she certainly has the momentum and skill to make a significant impact in the coming rounds. The excitement is palpable as the competition heats up at El Caballero Country Club, and all eyes will be on Lee, Buhai, and Lindblad as they vie for the title.
