Prime-ranked Jeeno Thitikul strikes into rivalry at her residence LPGA event in Thailand

CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — World No. 1-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot a 9-under 63 Friday that moved her into second place at her residence LPGA Thailand event on the Siam Nation Membership Previous Course close to Bangkok.

Thitikul, who celebrated her twenty third birthday Friday, trails second-rounder chief Somi Lee by three strokes after Lee shot a 61, together with an eagle 2 from the golf green on the fifteenth gap.

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The South Korean participant had a two-round complete of 17-under 127.

“I had the finest rating of my life right now so I’m a little bit emotional,” Lee mentioned. “However for the reason that competitors is just not over and there are nonetheless two extra days left, I simply need to have a good time this a little bit bit.”

The event about 125 kilometers (75 miles) east of Bangkok is the primary of three occasions in Asia in consecutive weeks, to be adopted by these in Singapore and China within the so-called early Asian swing on the LPGA Tour.

Japan’s Chizzy Iwai shot a bogey-free 62 that moved her right into a tie for third place with New Zealander Lydia Ko (64), 4 off the lead.

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Thitikul had 4 birdies and an eagle during the last six holes of her entrance 9 Friday, then birdied her tenth and eleventh holes to maneuver into the lead after trailing by two after the primary spherical. However Thitikul cooled off on the rest of her again 9, registering six straight pars earlier than a birdie on 18.

“Clearly, it was good to make a variety of birdies right now and listen to so many birthday needs from the followers,” Thitikul mentioned.

Canadian Brooke Henderson had a 68 and was at 5-under, 12 strokes behind Lee. Defending champion Angel Yin shot 75 and was at even par.

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