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Charley Hull Smashes Course Record with 62, Hunts Down Leader Anna Huang
PIF London Championship: Charley Hull Makes History in Round Two
What Happened in Round Two?
The second round of the PIF London Championship (a professional women’s golf tournament on the Ladies European Tour) delivered a day full of surprises and record-breaking performances. Held at the Centurion Club in Hertfordshire, England, the tournament saw England’s Charley Hull play the round of her life, while 17-year-old Canadian Anna Huang held onto the lead.
The Leaderboard So Far
After two rounds (36 holes), here are the top players and their scores relative to par (the expected number of strokes for a skilled golfer):
| Position | Player | Country | Score (Under Par) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Anna Huang | Canada | -11 |
| 2nd | Charley Hull | England | -10 |
| 3rd | Lydia Hall | Wales | -8 |
| T4th | Kelsey Bennett / Anne-Marie Donegan | Aus / Ire | -7 |
| T6th | Alice Hewson / Anne van Dam / Shannon Tan | Eng / Ned / Sin | -6 |
Important Note: In golf, negative numbers are good! Being "10-under-par" (-10) means the player took 10 fewer strokes than the course’s standard score. The lower the number, the better.
Charley Hull’s Record-Breaking Round
Charley Hull, a 30-year-old English star, stole the show on Friday with a flawless, bogey-free round of 62 (11-under-par for the day). Here is why it was so special:
Records Broken & Equaled
- Course Record: She smashed the previous Centurion Club record of 63, set by Georgia Hall in 2021.
- Tour History: Her 62 equals the lowest single-round score in Ladies European Tour history.
- Elite Company: She joins legends like Karrie Webb, Jessica Korda, Alison Lee, and Haeran Ryu as the only players to ever shoot 11-under in a single LET round.
How She Did It: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Slow Start: Hull opened the tournament with a disappointing 74 (2-over-par) on Thursday.
- Explosive Beginning: On Friday, she made an Eagle (2 strokes under par on a single hole) on the very first hole.
- Relentless Consistency: She followed that with nine Birdies (1 stroke under par on a hole) and zero mistakes (no bogeys or worse).
- Massive Jump: That 62 vaulted her 56 spots up the leaderboard into 2nd place, just one shot behind the leader.
Hull’s Reaction: "The Easiest 11-Under of My Life"
Despite making history, Hull revealed she was physically struggling:
- Exhaustion: She felt "exhausted" after a grueling stretch of tournaments, including the major AIG Women’s Open the previous week.
- Injuries: She mentioned her "body is in bits" and she has been relying heavily on physiotherapy.
- Surprise: "I’m quite shocked that I’ve shot 11-under because I felt so tired this morning. It felt like the easiest 11-under of my life."
- Hunger: She believes she left a few shots out there and wants to go even lower on the weekend.
How Golf Scoring Works (ELI5 Version)
Think of a golf course like a test where Par is the "passing grade" (e.g., 72 strokes for the whole course).
| Term | Meaning | Analogy |
|---|---|---|
| Par | The expected score for a hole or round. | Getting a C on the test (Exactly as expected). |
| Birdie | 1 stroke UNDER par (-1). | Getting a B (Better than expected!). |
| Eagle | 2 strokes UNDER par (-2). | Getting an A (Excellent!). |
| Bogey | 1 stroke OVER par (+1). | Getting a D (Worse than expected). |
| Bogey-Free | A round with zero bogeys or worse. | A perfect test paper—no wrong answers at all! |
| Under Par Total | Cumulative score better than par. | Extra credit points added up over the whole semester. |
Key Takeaway: Hull’s 62 was 11 strokes better than par for a single day. Doing that with zero mistakes (bogey-free) is incredibly rare—like acing every question on a surprise pop quiz while sleep-deprived!
Hull’s Eventful Week: Drama On and Off the Course
It has been a rollercoaster few days for the English star:
- The Prank: She made headlines for a prank played on her caddie (her bag carrier/advisor), which she later had to defend publicly.
- The Major Near-Miss: At the AIG Women’s Open (one of golf’s biggest majors) last week, she started the final day "in contention" (with a real chance to win) but finished joint 6th.
- The Bounce Back: Despite fatigue and injury, she produced a historic round at the PIF London Championship.
Other Notable Performances
- Anna Huang (Leader, -11): The 17-year-old rookie is playing like a veteran. She backed up her opening 67 with a steady 68. She admitted her round was a bit "up-and-down" (mixed good and bad holes) but was proud to stay on top.
- Lydia Hall (3rd, -8): The Welsh golfer shot a solid 67 to sit comfortably in third place, three shots back.
- English Contingent: Several English players are in the mix, including Ellie Young (-4) and Connie McGinty / Charley Gainer (-2).
Summary
- Charley Hull shot a historic 62 (-11), tying the Ladies European Tour record for lowest round and breaking the Centurion Club course record.
- She did this bogey-free (no mistakes) despite being exhausted and injured from a heavy recent schedule.
- Hull sits 2nd at -10, just one shot behind 17-year-old leader Anna Huang (-11).
- Lydia Hall is 3rd at -8.
- The stage is set for a thrilling weekend finale in Hertfordshire!
FAQ
What does "PIF" stand for in the tournament name?
PIF stands for the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, which is a major investor in global golf (including LIV Golf and the PGA Tour partnership). They sponsor this Ladies European Tour event.
Why is shooting 62 such a big deal?
On a standard par-72 course, 62 is 10-under-par. Doing it bogey-free (no dropped shots) requires near-perfect play. Only a handful of players in the entire history of the Ladies European Tour have ever done it. It is the golf equivalent of a pitcher throwing a perfect game.
How old is Anna Huang, and why is it impressive?
Anna Huang is 17 years old. Leading a professional tour event against seasoned veterans (like 30-year-old Hull) at that age shows exceptional talent and mental maturity. She is still an amateur/rookie in many contexts.
What does "in contention" mean?
It means a player is close enough to the lead (usually within a few shots) going into the final round that they have a realistic mathematical chance of winning the tournament.
Where can I watch the rest of the tournament?
You can follow the live scoring on the Ladies European Tour website or the BBC Sport leaderboard (linked in the original article). Coverage often streams on LET’s YouTube channel or via broadcasters like Sky Sports in the UK.
