Tavatanakit leads Thitikul by 3 strokes at LPGA Thailand
Patty Tavatanakit finished with an eagle to take a three-stroke lead over Atthaya Thitikul at the halfway stage of the LPGA Thailand on Friday.
The Canadian Press Patty Tavatanakit , Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
PATTAYA, Thailand Patty Tavatanakit finished with an eagle to take a three-stroke lead over Atthaya Thitikul at the halfway stage of the LPGA Thailand on Friday.
Tavatanakit moved 16 under at Siam Country Club after a 12-foot putt on the par-5 18th for back-to-back 64s. Despite no spectators because of the pandemic, Tavatanakit and 18-year-old Thitikul are playing under high home expectations. A Thai has never won this U.S. LPGA Tour event. Ariya Jutanugarn was second in 2013, and her sister Moriya Jutanugarn runner-up in 2018.
Photo Credit: Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images
Written By: LPGA Communications @LPGA
“I think mentally I m in a more peaceful world.”
The peaceful confidence Gaby Lopez speaks of was on full display at the Honda LPGA Thailand, where she recorded an 8-under 64, her lowest 18-hole score since the first round of the 2018 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, where she carded a 63.
“Internally I feel comfortable. There are so many birdies out there. I told my caddie, Hey, there is a birdie in every single hole out there. We just got to be aggressive,” said Lopez. “Greens are soft, so being able to birdie the par-5s I didn t birdie two of them but still got a really good round in. I think I got good numbers. I was just feeling calm out there.”
May 07, 2021 - 8:51 AM
PATTAYA, Thailand - Patty Tavatanakit finished with an eagle to take a three-stroke lead over Atthaya Thitikul at the halfway stage of the LPGA Thailand on Friday.
Tavatanakit moved 16 under at Siam Country Club after a 12-foot putt on the par-5 18th for back-to-back 64s. Despite no spectators because of the pandemic, Tavatanakit and 18-year-old Thitikul are playing under high home expectations. A Thai has never won this U.S. LPGA Tour event. Ariya Jutanugarn was second in 2013, and her sister Moriya Jutanugarn runner-up in 2018.
âMy driving wasnât the greatest today, a little bit off, but I feel like I just ignored the fact that I have to make it perfect and play from wherever I hit,â Tavatanakit said.
Patty Tavatanakit takes 3-shot lead in Thailand
08 May 2021, 00:55 GMT+10
Patty Tavatanakit shot her second consecutive 64 to take a three-shot lead after 36 holes Friday at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
Tavatanakit capped her round with a 12-foot putt for an eagle on No. 18 at the Old Course at Siam Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand, where the heat index approached 100 degrees by the end of the round. At 16-under par, she tied the tournament s 36-hole scoring record set by Jessica Korda in 2018.
She is seeking her second victory of the season, having won the ANA Inspiration last month in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Atthaya Thitikul, the 18-year-old who entered play Friday as the co-leader with fellow Thai Tavatanakit, shot a 67 and is 13-under par and alone in second on the leaderboard. She had four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 No. 7 before a bogey on the 17th hole.