Duke alumna Anne Chen turned in the round of the tournament on Friday, carding a bogey-free-until-the-last-hole 9-under 63 to vault to a two-shot, 36-hole lead at the inaugural Smoky Mountain Championship presented by Food City. Playing on dual LPGA/Epson Tour status this year, Chen made 10 birdies against a single bogey on the 18th hole and sits at 12-under 132 through two rounds at Green Meadow Country Club.

Chen, who won her first Epson Tour title at last year's Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells, said the low number gives her something to build on, not lean back on. “It's great to have a lead, but it's how you finish it off on the last day,” Chen said.

Chen credited playing alongside Thursday's overnight leader for sharpening her ball-striking: “I was hitting it a little closer to the hole after playing with [Olivares] yesterday.” Her favorite moment of the round wasn't even one of her 10 birdies — a scrambling par save from under a tree on a par-3 that nearly went in. “It almost felt like a birdie, honestly,” said Chen.

Mirabel Ting and Rachel Kuehn share second at 10-under 134, two shots back. Ting, fresh off a runner-up finish at the Hartford HealthCare Women's Championship presented by Munich Re, made an eagle on the par-5 5th and added six more birdies against two bogeys for a 6-under 66.

She said a deliberate week off the course — no clubs, no chipping, no putting — was exactly what she needed after a stretch of chasing good rounds too hard. “I didn't touch my clubs at all,” Ting said. “I was on holiday mode.”

Kuehn, still playing in front of friends and family close to her North Carolina roots, matched Ting's pace with an eagle of her own on the par-5 5th and three more birdies against a single bogey for a 4-under 68. “It's been a really special week so far, and I'm hoping to cap it off with a good day tomorrow too,” Kuehn said, adding that she's chasing down Chen after admitting, “I think Anne is leading, so hopefully chase her down.”

Thursday's leader, Lauren Olivares, cooled off considerably in round two, carding an even-par 72 after opening with bogeys on three of her first four holes.

Play was suspended due to darkness with several groups still on the course, but Carla Bernat Escuder finished her second round sitting in solo fourth at 9-under. Bernat Escuder, the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur champion, was 6-under on the day.

Round two will resume Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at Green Meadow Country Club, with round three to follow, starting at 9:30 a.m. local time. The inaugural Smoky Mountain Championship continues to deliver drama and opportunity for these rising stars chasing LPGA dreams.

Anne Chen Cards a Sizzling 9-Under 63 to Seize the 36-Hole Lead at the Inaugural Smoky Mountain Championship presented by Food City

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