Miyu Yamashita rides stellar 65 into Women's Open lead

Arab News

3 days ago

PORTHCAWL: Miyu Yamashita of Japan shot the round of the week so far, a 7-under-par 65, to jump out to a three-stroke lead at the AIG Women's Open on Friday in Porthcawl, Wales.
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Yamashita held third place after the first round at Royal Porthcawl and took control Friday with a bogey-free, seven-birdie round. She hit 13 of 14 fairways in regulation and had four of her birdies in a five-hole stretch from Nos. 9-13.
'Today was good overall, and my tee shots were very consistent, so I was able to hit from the fairway,' Yamashita said. 'I played really consistent golf today.'
Yamashita is halfway home at 11-under 133, and her closest pursuer is countrywoman Rio Takeda — one of the first-round co-leaders — whose 69 brought her to 8 under par for the week. After them, no player is better than 4 under.
The four-way tie at 4 under features Lindy Duncan (70 Friday), Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck (71), Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand (69) and Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland (69).
None of the top six players on the leaderboard have won a major, so the door appears wide open for Yamashita, a 23-year-old whose 13 professional wins have come on the Japanese tour.
'I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now,' Yamashita said of the tournament to date. 'I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind. So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out.'
Takeda, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, eagled the par-5 ninth hole Friday after making a double bogey there Thursday.
'My shots were a little crooked today, but I was playing, hoping I could correct that early,' Takeda said. 'The eagle putt was close, so I'm glad I was able to get an eagle. I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow.'
English phenom Lottie Woad was having an impressive day through 15 holes before disaster struck on the par-4 16th. She lost her second shot in thick rough, and she couldn't advance it on her third stroke before opting to take an unplayable lie penalty.
Woad was 5 under for her round and the tournament up until that hole, but the resultant triple bogey sent her backward. She finished with a 70 and sits at 2 under.
'I think it's probably the toughest hole on the course,' Woad said. 'The tee shot is hard to hit the fairway, and then you've got 3-wood into a very strong wind. Anything that's missing the target is going to be exaggerated. So (I) pushed it and got a pretty unlucky lie.'
Woad, 21, won the Women's Irish Open by six shots last month as an amateur, then turned pro and won last week's Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut.
Also part of a large tie at 2 under are World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Darcey Harry of Wales, each of whom shot an even-par 72. Harry is a member at Royal Porthcawl and is dealing with the nerves of performing for her home nation. She had five birdies on her card Friday, but one bogey and two doubles as well.
'I think I keep forgetting that this is actually my home course and I've played it before,' Harry said. 'I have to keep reminding myself I know the course, so I don't know why I'm stressing. Yeah, and just enjoy the atmosphere.'
At least Harry can say she has made the cut and has a faint chance on the weekend. Notable names to miss the cut of 2 over par included Allizen Corpuz (3 over), Canada's Brooke M. Henderson (3 over), Rose Zhang (4 over), Jennifer Kupcho (6 over), Lilia Vu (7 over) and South Korea's Jin Young Ko (7 over).
Japan's Eri Okayama, who shared the lead with Takeda after Thursday's opening round, followed a 67 with a 9-over 81 and missed the cut by two shots. Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand made the cut on the number.