Natthakritta Vontaveelap, ranked 470th in the world, upstaged a slew of big names on Friday to grab the lead at the halfway stage of her home LPGA Thailand.
The 20-year-old Thai rookie only turned professional in November and is contesting her first LPGA event after getting a sponsor invite.
But if she was nervous she did not show it, carding a seven-under-par 65 in the second round at Siam Country Club Pattaya for a one-shot lead.
Sweden’s Maja Stark was second on 11 under overall after her 67.
Nelly Korda, America’s world No 2, was two shots off the lead along with four others, while top-ranked Lydia Ko, the New Zealander who has been in red-hot form, was four shots off the lead in a share of 15th.
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai is on seven under (T20) after a second-round 65 that included five birdies and an eagle.
Natthakritta, who fired eight birdies against one bogey, said: “I feel excited to play in front of Thai fans. This is my first time, you know. It’s my largest crowd.”
Ko surged into the lead of the $1.7-million event after three birdies in her first four holes and she picked up three more, but she faltered on the back nine with a bogey and double-bogey.
The Seoul-born 25-year-old settled for a four-under-par 68, just as she had done on the opening day.
The 23-year-old Stark was pleased with how she handled the occasion after grabbing sole ownership of second place.
“I’ve been trying to get better at handling nerves, but I feel like I’m going to have nerves the whole weekend, so I’m just going to keep playing aggressively anyway,” she said.
Korda’s sister Jessica won the same tournament in 2018 and she hopes to take home a matching title.
“It would be great. Still 36 holes away from that,” said the 24-year-old after her round of 66 left her ominously placed.
© Agence France-Presse
