Ina Yoon widens her Women's PGA Championship lead to 5 strokes

CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — Ina Yoon stretched her lead at the Women's PGA Championship with a 3-under 69 that put her five strokes up on the second-place pack after another strong South Korean showing Friday.

Yoon, who shot a record 63 in the first round at Hazeltine National Golf Club, had two bogeys with one birdie on the back nine to reach 12 under. The 23-year-old is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory.

“The remaining two days will obviously be nerve-racking, but being nervous is human nature, and I think I want to embrace that and focus on what I can in my shots,” said Yoon, who missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open this month after tying for fourth at the first major of the season at The Chevron Championship.

Nasa Hataoka, Brooke Henderson, A Lin Kim and Hae Ran Ryu were tied for second. Ryu shot a 64 for the best score of the day, three strokes better than Hataoka. Henderson finished with three straight birdies for a 68. Kim shot a 70. They all left the course in good spirits, yet trying to figure out how to make up five strokes.

“It’s halfway done. She had a great first half, so hopefully I can just have a great second half to try to make up the difference,” said Henderson, the Canadian who won the Women's PGA Championship at age 18 in 2016 at Sahalee Country Club in Washington. “I feel like overall the way I’ve been playing the course has been really solid, so just hopefully I make a few more birdies and climb the board.”

LPGA Tour leader Nelly Korda, who opened her bid for a third straight major title this year with a quiet 70, had a 68 to climb into a tie for sixth place with Dongeun Lee at 6 under.

After rallying from a slow start to win the U.S. Women's Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Korda put herself in a viable position.

“It is hard to have a big lead going into the weekend. I was there at Chevron and you do feel a little bit more pressure, like everyone is hunting you down. I’m just going to focus on, as boring as it is, one shot at a time and see where that takes me,” Korda said. “I know the wind will be higher this weekend so it’s going to play probably a little bit more difficult, and I’m sure that the pins will be tricked up.”

Yoon, Kim, Ryu and Lee gave South Korean four of the top seven at the midpoint of a tournament that has so far enjoyed calm, dry and comfortable conditions with high temperatures in the mid-70s. The 36-hole average score is the lowest for this event since 2008 at Bulle Rock in Maryland.

“I think I like this kind of grass, and the course fit my eye as well," Yoon said. “Yeah, I think I like this course.”

Yoon became the fourth player in the history of the Women's PGA Championship, which dates to 1955, to lead by five or more strokes through 36 holes, following Mickey Wright (eight, 1958), In Gee Chun (six, 2022) and Cristie Kerr (five, 2010).

Korda again had hundreds of fans following her every shot, streaming from hole to hole as she traversed the lengthy 6,700-yard course in suburban Minneapolis.

After birdies on four of her first nine holes, Korda faded a bit down the stretch and finished with six straight pars as she fought a hook with her tee shots. She hit into the rough along the treeline to begin her back nine before two-putting for bogey on the first hole.

Projecting confidence and humility as the sport's most dominant and popular player at the moment, Korda couldn't help but laugh with caddie Jason McDede at the difference in layouts from the last major to this one.

“At Riv it’s a dead right and now it’s left,” Korda said. “I would’ve killed for this shot at Riv. But, yeah, it’s just golf. It’s funny, right? It always kind of humbles you, and you’re always kind of scratching your head a little bit in some ways.”

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Brooke Henderson, of Canada, hits from the 18th fairway during the second round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Ina Yoon, of South Korea, reacts after a birdie on the fourth hole during the second round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Ina Yoon, of South Korea, hits from the fourth tee during the second round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nelly Korda hits from the 10th fairway during the second round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Nelly Korda stands on the 17th tee during the second round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Nelly Korda reacts after a birdie on the 18th green during the second round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Ina Yoon, of South Korea, right, talks with her caddie on the ninth hole during the second round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Ina Yoon, of South Korea, walks by a scoreboard on the ninth hole during the second round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Chaska, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Pavel Dorofeyev is heading to the New York Rangers as part of a trade at the NHL draft on Friday night, as they hope the high-scoring winger helps supercharge their retooling effort.

The Rangers acquired Dorofeyev's rights from Vegas for the Nos. 26 and 92 picks this year, plus a conditional first-rounder in 2028. They will need to sign him to a contract since the 25-year-old is a restricted free agent, coming off scoring 12 goals on the Golden Knights' run to the Stanley Cup Final.

On their way there, they defeated the Utah Mammoth, who also made a big subtraction by sending a winger to the Eastern Conference. JJ Peterka is going to the Boston Bruins for the No. 23 pick and Florida's top-10-protected '28 first-rounder.

Peterka is changing places for a second consecutive offseason following his move from Buffalo just over a year to the day ago. The 24-year-old from Germany now gets to play for the league's only German coach, Marco Sturm.

“I would like to thank JJ for his commitment to our organization,” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said. “JJ is a great person and will be a dynamic player for Boston.”

Midway through the first round, the St. Louis Blues acquired forward Mason McTavish from Anaheim for the Nos. 15 and 29 picks, getting a player entering his prime at 23 who's signed through 2031 at a salary cap hit of $7 million.

Getting Dorofeyev was New York GM Chris Drury 's second move of the day after sending forward Brett Berard to Montreal for defenseman William Trudeau, who has been in the minors and is still awaiting his NHL debut.

Also Friday, Buffalo got defenseman Olen Zellweger, who also needs a new contract, from Anaheim for the 45th pick and forward prospect Anton Wahlberg. Zellweger, who turns 23 in September, replenishes depth for the Sabres after they traded Bowen Byram to Chicago earlier in the week.

Chicago sent winger Andre Burakovsky to Ottawa for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Burakovsky joins the Senators more than three decades since his dad, Robert, played 23 games for them in the 1993-94 season.

The Blackhawks clear his $5.5 million salary cap hit off the books for next season, while the Senators get a 31-year-old winger who has twice won the Stanley Cup.

General manager Steve Staios said the Senators were happy to add a player of Burakovsky’s pedigree because he “adds skill and playmaking ability to our forward group.”

Staios was busy in the hours before adding Burakovsky, acquiring the rights to goaltender Samuel Ersson and re-signing another pending restricted free agent, defenseman Jordan Spence. Ottawa sent a 2027 fifth-rounder to rival Toronto for Ersson, whom the Maple Leafs got along with Emil Andrae in a cap space-clearing trade with Philadelphia for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit.

Spence, 25, signed a four-year, $20 million contract. He was a big part of the team enduring injuries at the position and still making the playoffs, scoring a career-high seven goals and finishing with 31 points while skating an average of nearly 19 minutes over 73 games.

“Jordan was an excellent addition to our hockey club and proved to be a valuable asset on our blue line and stepped up when it counted last season,” Staios said. “We’re excited to have him as part of our core group.”

Colorado re-signed defensemen Brent Burns and Brett Kulak, fresh off winning the Presidents’ Trophy and losing in the conference final to Vegas.

Burns, 41, signed for next season, his 23rd in the league, at the veteran minimum of $850,000 and can make up to $3 million in incentives, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because financial terms were not disclosed.

Burns has skated in 1,007 consecutive regular-season games and is 58 away from passing Phil Kessel for the longest ironman streak in NHL history.

Kulak got a five-year contract from the Avalanche worth a reported $22.5 million. President of hockey operations and franchise great Joe Sakic is reshaping the roster after reclaiming GM duties when Chris MacFarland left for Nashville.

Los Angeles re-signed defenseman Brandt Clarke for $37 million over the next five years.

The Islanders re-signed defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a two-year contract worth $9 million. He will count $4.5 million against the salary cap through the 2027-28 season.

DeAngelo, 30, is returning to the Islanders for a second full season after joining them upon returning to the NHL from a stint in the Russia-based KHL in January 2025.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

FILE - Los Angeles Kings' Brandt Clarke plays against the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL hockey game, March 9, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

FILE - Colorado Avalanche's Brent Burns (84) skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues on April 7, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz, File)

FILE - Utah Mammoth right wing JJ Peterka challenges for the puck during a hockey game, March 16, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FILE - Chicago Blackhawks left wing Andre Burakovsky controls the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)

FILE - Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson puts his glove out for a save during an NHL hockey game against the Montréal Canadiens, April 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File)

FILE - New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (77) looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)