Duncan and Schmelzel Climb Into Contention

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — The early wave on Friday at The Chevron Championship saw several players surge up the leaderboard at The Club at Carlton Woods, positioning themselves nicely for the weekend at the year’s first major championship.

Lindy Duncan and Sarah Schmelzel were among the biggest movers, carding rounds of 66 and 68 respectively to reach 6-under total and climb into the top five with 36 holes remaining.

Duncan, competing in her fifth event of the 2025 season, tied her lowest round of the year with her Friday 66. The 34-year-old has already collected two top-15 finishes this season and is now in position to significantly improve upon her previous best Chevron Championship result, which was a tie for 48th.

“It was an awesome day,” said Duncan. “Got off to a great start. Made probably a 45-footer on my 11th hole, second hole. Next hole, I stuck it to like three feet, so got the ball rolling nicely.”

Schmelzel made six birdies against two bogeys in her second-round 68, with three of those birdies coming during a five-hole stretch on holes 14 through 18. This marks her seventh Chevron Championship appearance, and she’s on track to improve upon her career-best T25 in this major.

“It was more of a consistent and kind of steady day today,” Schmelzel said. “I struggled hitting greens, especially on the front nine yesterday. I was fortunate enough to have a bunch of really good up and downs to start. Then kind of gained some momentum.”

Former Champions Making Moves

Past champion Lexi Thompson made a significant jump on Friday, bouncing back from an opening 73 with an impressive 5-under 67. The 30-year-old, who won this event in 2014 when it was still played at Mission Hills, made six birdies against just one bogey to move into contention.

“Coming into the week, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t hitting it great coming off last week,” Thompson admitted. “I didn’t really know what to expect. But Monday through Wednesday, I don’t think I’ve ever practiced that hard…Sometimes you’ve just got to go out there and focus in on one thing and let it go.”

South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai authored one of the day’s most impressive comebacks, firing a 6-under 66 to play her way inside the cut line after Thursday’s disappointing 79. Her round included four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 8th hole, bringing her to 1-over for the tournament and ensuring she’ll play the weekend.

With the cut line established and the weekend field set, the stage is now set for an exciting conclusion to the season’s first major championship in The Woodlands, Texas.