Coughlin sets LPGA record with nine straight birdies

Lauren Coughlin opened her second round at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship with nine consecutive birdies after starting on the 10th hole. She made the turn in 9-under 26, the lowest nine-hole total in LPGA history. She closed with six consecutive pars for a career-best 10-under 61, falling short of Annika Sorenstam's LPGA-record 59. The performance followed a 2-over 73 in the opening round. "I was making a lot of those mid-range putts. I hit everything pretty much inside 12 feet on my whole front nine. My longest putt might've been the 17th, which was probably about 15 feet or so," Coughlin said. "Couldn't quite get it close enough (to a '59 round') unfortunately those last few holes." She tied the record for most consecutive birdies in a round shared by Beth Daniel and Amy Yang. Sorenstam set the 59 on March 16, 2001, at the Standard Register PING in Phoenix and began with eight birdies, one fewer than Coughlin. Contested: none found. The final round is next.