The first of three team events on the LPGA’s 2024 schedule has gone to the weekend and it’s shaping up to be a sprint to the finish.

There are now five teams tied for the lead at 12 under after 36 holes at the 2024 Dow Championship.

A day after foursomes (alternate shot), the 72 two-player teams switched to the fourball format (best ball) and things got a bit more bunched up at the top of the leaderboard. There were three teams tied for the lead Thursday but now there are five:

• Nicole Broch Estrup and Nanna Koerstz Madsen, 12 under
• Grace Kim and Auston Kim, 12 under
• Ssu-Chia Cheng and Wei-Ling Hsu, 12 under
• Jaravee Boonchat and Chanettee Wannassaen, 12 under
• Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, 12 under

The Danish duo of Estrup and Madson, sitting at 2 under after 18 holes, posted a 10-under 60 after shooting 30 on each side with nine birdies overall to go along with an eagle and a bogey. For Estrup, it’s her first appearance in an LPGA event this season.

The low round of the week was carded by Celine Boutier and Yuka Saso, who shot 58. They started on the back and had four birdies there including one on No. 18. They then birdied the next seven holes, giving them eight birdies in a row, en route to a 27 on their second nine. In all, it was 12 birdies and six pars and a round that was 16 shots better than the 74 they posted Thursday. The 58 tied the tournament’s 18-hole fourball scoring record set five years ago.

Other notable scores:

• Brooke Henderson and Lexi Thompson, 10 under
• Atthaya Thitikul and Ruoning Yin, 10 under
• Nasa Hataoka and Jin Young Ko, 8 under
• Danielle Kang and Lydia Ko, 8 under
• Alex Pano and Rose Zhang, 7 under

There’s a $3 million purse with a first-place team prize of $732,165, which is $366,082 for each player.

After 36 holes Friday, the field was cut to the low 33 teams and ties. The cut came in at 7 under at Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan, playing at 6,256 yards this week.

Some of the golfers finding themselves booking early travel home include the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA winner.

Gaby Lopez and Emily Kristine Pederson, 6 under

Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark and Gaby Lopez of Mexico reacts on the fifth green during the second round of the 2024 Dow Championship at Midland Country Club. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

This duo shot one of the seven 61s on Friday but it was one shot shy of what was needed to make the cut following Thursday’s 73.

Carlota Ciganda and Linn Grant, 3 under

Linn Grant of Sweden and Carlota Ciganda of Spain walk to the fifth green during the second round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Jennifer Song and Amy Yang, even

Jennifer Song of the United States and Amy Yang of South Korea lines up a putt on the fourth green during the second round of the 2024 Dow Championship at Midland Country Club. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Maria Fassi and Stacy Lewis, even

Maria Fassi of Mexico and Stacy Lewis of the United States walks on the eighth green during the first round of the 2024 Dow Championship at Midland Country Club. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Dow team event is an ideal week for players to change the course of their seasons

There’s something about team golf that, for many, brings out the best. Over the course of the past four editions of the Dow Championship, several winning teams have enjoyed a serious springboard.

LPGA members on the winning team will receive the standard two-year winner’s exemption. CME points and prize money will be official for the purposes of the current-year LPGA Official Money List and Race to the CME Globe Standings. Rolex Player of the Year, Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and U.S. Solheim Cup points will not be allocated and statistics will not be calculated. Rolex Women’s World Rankings Points also will not be allocated.

—Beth Ann Nichols