Nelly Korda shot a second consecutive 68 to take a three-shot lead in the middle stage of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.
The World No.1 eased into day two on the Old Course with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 before making two more on the fifth and ninth holes to stay atop the leaderboard at 8-under par.
Defending champion Lilia Vu and Charley Hull are tied for second place at five-under-par after 36 holes.
Vu dropped one shot on the second day to roll three birdies in a round of 70, and it was a tough day for Hull, who started on the back nine, starting with bogeys on 10, 14, and 2 before turning the day around. with five, six and nine birdies in an even round.
“I actually thought I hit it as good as yesterday,” Hull said. “I just missed three or four putts, but that was early in my round. The greens were slow today, so it took a while to adjust, but once I got past that, I just got back into shape and felt good.
He added: “Only three shots from the back. That doesn’t happen on the weekend, especially on this golf course.”
China’s Ruoning Yin sits in fourth place after again playing a level round that included three birdies and three bogeys.
Six players are in fifth place with two South Africans Ashleigh Buhai and Casandra Alexander, Swedish scholarship Louise Rydqvist, Japan’s Mao Saigo, Chinese Taipei’s Peiyun Chien and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko all at 3 under-par.
Georgia Hall is tied for 10th at 2 under after a second round 71, a spot she shares with Surrey amateur Lottie Woad who fired a 70 to go with her opening 72.
The cut was down to +4 with 82 players heading into the weekend of the year’s final major, although among the early exits was Scotland’s Catriona Matthew who finished at +7 in her final Women’s Open.
Also missing the cut are 2023 European Solheim Cup players Madelene Sagstrom, Anna Nordqvist, Gemma Dryburgh and Emily Pedersen.
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