JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Rising star Atthaya Thitikul birdied 5 of the ultimate seven holes in a spherical of 7-under 65 to seize the midway lead within the Mizuho Americas Open on Friday, with top-ranked Nelly Korda in competition one week after having her LPGA record-tying 5 match profitable streak halted.
Thitikul, who’s enjoying in her third occasion this yr due to an damage to her left thumb, had a bogey-free spherical at Liberty Nationwide whereas enjoying in a gaggle that included Korda and Ayaka Furue of Japan.
The 21-year-old from Thailand, who was final yr’s winner of the Rolex Vare Award for lowest scoring common, was two photographs forward of first-round chief So Mi Lee of South Korea and three in entrance of Korda, Mao Saigo of Japan, fellow Thai participant Ariya Jutanugarn and rookie Gabriela Ruffels of Australia.
One other giant group was 4 photographs again, together with Jutanugarn’s sister, Moriya. People Andrea Lee and Megan Khang and Furue additionally have been at 5 below within the occasion that misplaced defending champion Rose Zhang after three holes to an intestinal drawback.
“Once I can got here right here, play in Chevron, be capable of play golf once more, it is like — it is similar to click on, and alter my thoughts,” Thitikul stated. “Simply be capable of play golf it is ok for me. It is simply go take pleasure in. Simply do the very best that you are able to do on the market.”
Thitikul, who has two profession LPGA wins in 2022 and already pocketed $3.85 million in profession earnings, completed twelfth within the Chevron and missed the minimize by a stroke within the Cognizant Founders Cup final week.
She switched putters this week, and it clicked within the second spherical. It might have been higher too. A protracted birdie putt at No. 18 lipped out.
“I performed with Atthaya at present, and my spherical felt like poop in comparison with hers,” stated Korda, who shot a 68, two photographs higher than her opening spherical. “She’s enjoying phenomenal golf the previous two days. I am blissful to be in it, three again on the midway level, however hopefully I can provide it my greatest.”
In her current profitable streak that Zhang snapped final week, Korda trailed by 5 photographs on the Seri Pak Championship, by 4 on the Ford Championship and by six within the T-Cell Match Play, the place the sector was minimize after the third spherical. She gained all of them.
“Should you’re not hitting it properly and never giving your self possibilities, you are by no means going to capitalize on this,” Korda stated. “Hopefully all the pieces is flowing for me. Going to go follow just a little now after my spherical and attempt to get issues just a little bit extra dialed in for the weekend.”
Lee (66) and Saigo (68) have been Thursday additions to the sector due to late withdrawals. They discovered themselves on the prime of the leaderboard after 18 and have been nonetheless there Friday. Lee had a 71, one shot greater than Saigo.
Probably the most attention-grabbing a part of Lee’s spherical was a change of caddies. After attending his son’s commencement from elementary faculty in Orlando, Florida, common caddie Andrew Tomasi arrived late Thursday and took over the bag from Lee’s father, Tohyeun.
Lee, a five-time winner on the Korean LPGA, laughed when requested if she fired her father.
“My father stated: ‘It is over. My first and my final. My final caddie ever,'” Lee stated in feedback translated by her supervisor. “He was very drained.”
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