“Still a Good Day”: Liqi Zeng Holds Halfway Lead at Aramco China Championship as Day Two Elevates Women in Sports Leadership

The home favourite holds a slender one-stroke cushion heading into the weekend, anchoring an exceptionally tight leaderboard at the halfway stage

Reflecting on her performance, Zeng said:

“Today my driver is not very good; I missed some short putts, but it’s fine. I was four-under, so it’s still a good day. For number 10, my first hole, I missed my driver to the right, and I fell in the rough, but the second shot was very nice, and it’s just in the hole. I’m very happy; it’s been a long time since I have had an eagle from the fairway. I like this course. The greenery is very nice. For my driver, it’s good, and tomorrow I will just try my best and try to make more birdies.”

Chasing Zeng is a crowded six-way tie for second place at 11-under par. Fellow Chinese standout Shiyuan Zhou fired a sparkling 66 to climb into contention, joined by Spanish duo Ana Pelaez Trivino (66) and Luna Sobron Galmes (67), alongside English trio Mimi Rhodes (68), Annabell Fuller (70), and Charlotte Heath (70). Together, the chasing pack keeps the pressure firmly on Zeng heading into moving day, with the 36-hole cut falling at one-under par.

Beyond the competitive action on the course, the commercial trajectory of the women’s sports economy took center stage during Round 2 at Mission Hills Shenzhen with the hosting of "The Women in Sports Playbook" panel. Serving as the grand finale of the 2026 PIF Global Series calendar following previous editions in London, South Korea, and Las Vegas, the forum convened leading industry executives to examine investment, ownership, and sustainable business models shaping the women’s game.

With an opening address from Mission Hills Group Vice Chairman Tenniel Chu underscoring the vital role of grassroots infrastructure and world-class platforms, the panel brought together Emily Hu (Director of Partnership Management, Asia Football Group), Betty Zhen Wang (Head of Commercial Partnerships, TJ Sports), and Sunny Sun (Head of Marketing & Strategic Projects, Bundesliga China) to evaluate the market forces driving modern sports governance and asset valuation.

The discussion delved into the rapid evolution of commercial strategy, challenging traditional sponsorship models in favor of deep fan engagement, multi-team ecosystem synergies, and the rising institutional appetite for women’s sports properties. The panelists analyzed how lessons from the NBA, multi-club football operations, and esports, including hyper-growth in live event attendance and digital IP monetization, can be adapted by traditional sports like golf to capture younger demographics.

When tasked with deploying a hypothetical $50 million investment, the leaders unanimously advocated for sustained capital allocation across grassroots talent pathways, youth participation, and executive leadership. Addressing the room, Betty Zhen Wang advocated directly for deploying capital into women's sports properties, emphasizing that the sector remains commercialized far below its true potential due to a lack of visibility rather than an absence of audience appetite:

“Women’s sports are still mispriced. They are undervalued not because they lack appeal, but because they aren't seen enough. This is the moment to invest, bring out their brilliance, and operate them with real commercial ambition.”

With the 36-hole cut now officially made, attention turns back between the ropes for Saturday’s pivotal moving day, where the international field will battle for position across Mission Hills Shenzhen’s World Cup Course ahead of Sunday’s US$2 million finale.