Akie Iwai of Japan kept her nose in front at the Honda LPGA in Thailand on Friday, shooting a second-round 67 for a two-shot clubhouse lead.
The 22-year-old Japanese, in her rookie season in the top women’s Tour, equalled the course record with a first-round 62 at Pattaya’s Siam Country Club on Thursday, and followed up Friday with five birdies on her way to 15 under overall.
American Angel Yin lies second on 13 under after firing a second-round 64, with local favourites Jeeno Thitikul and Moriya Jutanugarn tied in third.
Iwai shrugged off her stellar start to the tournament, insisting it was too early to think about a maiden Tour victory on Sunday.
“I don’t care about the result, I just stick with my game plan,” she said. “Just keep going, stay focused, focus on my golf, finish the holes.”
Sweden’s Maja Stark, in second place after the first round, dropped off dramatically with a Friday horror show, carding three bogeys and two double-bogeys to lie tied 31st on three under.
Four-time Tour winner Jeeno, making her sixth appearance at the Honda LPGA, hit five birdies on her first six holes en route to a front-nine 30.
The 22-year-old put her second-round success down to a hot putter.
“[My putts] were dropping more than yesterday,” she said. “I was just really trying to not really think much when I putt.”
Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit finished strongly with three straight birdies but lies back in 15th place on five under par.
The Pattaya tournament kicks off an Asian swing for the LPGA that also takes in Singapore next week and China from 6-9 March.
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Photo: Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images
