Rookie Moriya cruises into weekend on 6-under
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Moriya Jutanugarn carded an error-free round of 70 yesterday to make the weekend cut in the Women's Australian Open, her debut tournament as a professional.
The 18-year-old Thai is on six-under-par 140 at the halfway stage, nine shots behind leader Mariajo Uribe at the Royal Canberra Golf Club.
Moriya picked up three more birdies in windy conditions yesterday, at the 6th, 12th and 17th hole for back-to-back rounds of 3-under 70 that left her in joint 14th place along with Japan’s Ayako Uehara, Taiwanese Jenny Shin and Canadian Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
“I teed off in the afternoon and it was windy. I hit into the bunkers a few times but I did pretty well to get out trouble. Still, I didn’t putt the way I wanted to,” said Moriya, the top Thai after two rounds.
“I should have shot lower scores but 6-under is not so bad. The fairways are quite narrow but the greens are not difficult. You just have to hit straight and make some good putts.
“My game plan for the weekend round won’t be different from the two previous rounds. I just have to be more careful and avoid mistakes. Making putts is another thing I have to work on,’’ said Moriya, who has targeted a top-10 finish.
Only two other Thais made the top 70 cut-off point for entry to the weekend rounds. Thidapa Suwannapura fired a 72 for a total 3-under-par 143 to take joint 40th place, while Thai No 1 Pornanong Phatlum is at 52nd after a round of 73 and a 2-under-par 144 total.
Nontaya Srisawang and Numa Gulyanamitta failed to make the cut, shooting 4-over 150 and 8-over 154, respectively.
Elsewhere, Moriya’s sister Ariya and Michelle Wie have been handed invitations for the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore, which starts on February 28.
