LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) 鈥� Shiho Kuwaki of Japan sank a birdie putt on the 16th in her 1-under 70 for a one-shot clubhouse lead over Jeeno Thitikul in the second round of the British Women鈥檚 Open on Friday.
Thitikul, still in pursuit of her first victory at a major, had brought over Kuwaki and Haeran Ryu into day two at Royal Lytham & St. Annes but made three bogeys in her 73.
Kuwaki led for the first time Friday after her birdie on 16 and following Thitikul’s second bogey of the day 鈥� on the par-5 11th when the Thai star’s putt for par didn’t drop.
Thitikul, one of only two players to have been No. 1 in the women鈥檚 world ranking without ever having won a major, had a bogey-free 64 in the first round but didn’t give herself a good birdie opportunity Friday until the par-3 12th, when she rolled in from 6 feet to regain a share of the lead at 6-under overall.
With Kuwaki in the clubhouse, Thitikul then fell a shot back on the 14th when she misjudged a birdie putt before missing from 4 feet on her second putt, ending with her third bogey. Thitikul limited the damage, though, on the 15th when she saved par with a long putt.
The 23-year-old Thitikul has been overlooked during the LPGA major season dominated by Ryu and Nelly Korda, who have split the four majors. Korda, who replaced Thitikul at No. 1 in April, and Ryu won the next two.
Kuwaki had three straight birdies early in her round but sandwiched them with bogeys. She dropped another shot on the 15th.
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