Patty Tavatanakit Takes 3-Shot Halftime Lead at Honda LPGA Thailand

0
Patty Tavatanakit Leads Honda LPGA Thailand
Patty Tavatanakit plays her shot during the second round of the Honda LPGA Thailand at the Siam CC Pattaya Old Course on May 07, 2021 in Chonburi, Thailand. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant via Getty Images)

Patty Tavatanakit fired a second-straight 8-under 64 and will enter the weekend at the 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand with a three-stroke lead.

The Thai star, and reigning ANA major champion, signed for a scorecard comprised of six birdies and a final-hole eagle to reach 16 under.

“Didn’t really hit a good drive off 18 and then just kind of forgot about it, don’t let it bother me and move on to the second shot, which was pretty good actually,” said Tavatanakit.

“It was 246 to the hole and probably like 210 to the front, so I was just trying to hit the front number and I hit a really good shot.

“It came on the really hot, which is a little bit of low spin into that soft ground and a little bit of an up slope.

“Just the perfect shot.”

Atthaya Thitikul, the 18-year-old Thai native, who’s playing in her first event a pro, was alone in second-place on 13 under following a round of 67, which included an eagle on the par-5 7th hole at Siam’s Old Course.

“I’m really surprise with that eagle,” said Thitikul. “When I was making the putt, I feel like, ‘did I make it again with eagle? Like two days with three eagles. Can I, or not?’

“I just putt what I see and then it went in.

“I was like, ‘Okay. Nice. You know, good job. You did it again.’”

Caroline Masson recorded a second-consecutive bogey-free round of 66 to sit in third on 12 under. The German’s scorecard was highlighted by a four-birdie binge on her final eight holes.

Gaby Lopez (64), Lydia Ko (67) and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68), who’s also produced 36 holes of bogey-free golf, were T4 on 11 under.

Early on, Ko had reached the top of the leaderboard after carding three birdies in her first four holes, but a double on the par-4 5th dropped her back to the chasing pack.

“I started off really well. Hit my ball towards the rough,” said Ko. “Wasn’t actually that far where we should have been able to find it, but cameraman said it’s in that kind of proximity and we couldn’t find it, and it’s pretty dark under the trees anyway.

“So unfortunate there, but I hung in there and made some good birdies.

“So, yeah, overall happy with the way I played today.”

Hee Young Park (66), Ariya Jutanugarn (69) and defending champion Amy Yang (65) were tied for seventh on 10 under.

2021 Honda LPGA Thailand

Top-5 Leaders: Round 2
Pos-Player-To Par-(Rd 2)
1. Patty Tavatanakit -16 (-8)
2. Atthaya Thitikul -13 (-5)
3. Caroline Masson -12 (-6)
4. Gaby Lopez -11 (-8)
4. Lydia Ko -11 (-5)
4. Nanna Koerstz Madsen -11 (-4)


Material from the LPGA Tour Communications was used to compile this report.


Advertisement

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your name here