One day after failing to make a bogey, Jeeno Thitikul made only one birdie at the AIG Women’s Open.
The overnight leader after Round 1 of the season’s final major shot 2-over 73 Friday to fall to 5 under, one back of Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki.
Haeran Ryu and Nelly Korda were among the afternoon wave just beginning their second rounds. Ryu opened in 66 to sit two back of Thitikul after Thursday; Korda shot 73.
Both are now chasing Kuwaki, a six-time LPGA Japan Tour winner, who added a 70 to her opening 66.
So, too, is the world No. 2.
Thitiukl had seven birdies in her opening 64. Friday, she didn’t make her first birdie until the par-3 12th – and that was it. She dropped shots at the third, 11th and 14th holes to drop off the pace, but not out of contention.
Her round concluded with a 15-foot lip-out for birdie at the par-4 18th.
Thitikul, 23, is seeking her first major victory. She is coming off back-to-back top-10s at the KPMG Women’s PGA and Amundi Evian.
Charley Hull is also looking for her first major title. And, likewise, she is very much in the mix. Hull holed a bunker shot for birdie at the par-4 17th on her way to an even-par 71. She’s at 2 under, four back of Kuwaki.
Not as fortunate from the sand was defending champion Miyu Yamashita. Playing alongside Thitikul, Yamashita made a quadruple bogey at the last when her greenside bunker shot failed to clear the face and rolled back into her footprint. She shot 77 to miss the cut at 7 over.