Ariya surges to second in S'pore

Ariya Jutanugarn carded a bogey-free 66 yesterday and surged to joint second with a total 9-under 135, trailing leader Stacy Lewis by two strokes at the midway stage of the HSBC Women’s Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore

The 17-year-old Thai, who was poised to win last week’s LPGA in Pattaya before disaster struck on the last hole, collected two birdies on the front nine in Singapore before adding four more including two on the last two holes. She shares second spot with world No 2 Choi Na-yeon of South Korea, who also fired a 66.

“There were some bad shots today, like on the 13th where I hit a bunker. But my short game worked well and I managed to find my way back and save par,” said Ariya, who entered the event with a sponsor’s invitation.

“I hit my irons better than I did yesterday. That’s why I created more birdie chances and I didn’t slip them away,” added the Thai, who again established herself among the leading group for the weekend rounds. 

Ariya said she had learnt her lesson from her final-hole meltdown in Pattaya on Sunday, when she threw away a two stroke lead over Park Inbee with a heart-breaking triple bogey. 

“I have to stay in the present, not think about the past or the future. If I can focus on my game I can shoot lower scores,” said Ariya, who will tee off alongside World No 2 Choi and World No 4 Lewis, who made six birdies in her 66 to take a two-stroke lead at 11-under-par 133. She leads a pack of six players in second place at 9-under, including Chella Choi (67), Paula Creamer (67), Sun Young-yoo (68) and overnight leader Azahara Munoz (70). 

World No 1 Yani Tseng stumbled with a double bogey on the par-5 4th hole and shot a 73. She shares 21st place at 3 under. 

Defending champion Angela Stanford struggled for the second straight day, matching her first-round 76 to sit at 8-over 152 overall. She’s tied 59th in the 61-player field. 

Michelle Wie also struggled, carding four bogeys on her first five holes and six overall to shoot at 75. She’s at 2-over 146. 

Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum, after tying at second on Thursday, swapped three birdies with two bogeys to finish with a 71 yesterday and a total six-under-par 138. She fell to a lone ninth. 

“I was playing better than on Thursday but I just didn’t make my putts. Tomorrow I have to improve my putting and study the wind directions carefully,” said Pornanong. 

Moriya Jutanugarn, after an opening 73, boosted her confidence with an eagle on the 12th before shooting four birdies against two bogeys to finish with a 68 and a halfway total 3-under-par 141 to tie for 21st along with American Morgan Pressel, Lexi Thompson and Tseng Yani of Taiwan.