Error-free Ariya trails 3 shots after Joh
Ariya Jutanugarn fired an unblemished second round 65 to stay three shots behind American leader Tiffany Joh in the Scottish Ladies Open at Gullane on Friday.
Playing her first event after spending a short break at home in Thailand, the former world No 1 shot six birdies to take the tied second place with Amy Yang of South Korea on 10 under-par-132.
“I think the wind picked up my back nine, so it was getting pretty tough my back nine. So it was hard to control the distance to the green. I feel I didn't miss a lot of putts today, but I didn't make a lot of putts too, so I think the putting is okay,” said Ariya who was involved in promotional activities for the Tourism Authority of Thailand during the break last week.
“ I don't know about winning, but I feel pretty good for myself. Because like links course I've been playing pretty good for two rounds,” Ariya added.
Joh went in search of her first title in a decade on the LPGA Tour. The 31-year-old did see her lead trimmed by a shot after a second-round 67.
Unsurprisingly, the American was unable to match her stunning first-round 62, a course record, but still hit five birdies for a total of 13-under par.
"I had pretty low expectations for today, to be honest," Joh told the Tour's official website on Friday. "I honestly probably would have taken anything under par, but on the first hole right away we made a 45-footer, and I just started laughing.
"I didn't even know what to say. So yeah, it was a really good start, and I guess I just kept rolling with it."
South Korea's Amy Yang shot 66 to get within three off the lead.
Germany's Caroline Masson equalled Jutanugarn's 65 to move into fourth.
