[골프한국 하유선 기자] The second day of the 2023 season of the American Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour, Honda LPGA Thailand (total prize money of $1.7 million), was held on the 24th at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course (par 72, 6,576 yards) near Pattaya, Thailand.
The 72 contestants recorded an average of 69.388 strokes in the first round and 69.807 strokes in the second round during the two days of the competition.
On the second day, the most difficult hole 9 (par 4) averaged 4.292 strokes, but there were no eagles, 2 birdies, 21 bogeys, and 1 double bogey. He hit an average of 4.375 on the easiest 7th hole (par 5), and 1 eagle and 35 birdies poured in. There were 3 bogeys and 1 double bogey.
Natacritta Wongtawirap (Thailand), who shot 12 under par and 132 strokes for two days, took the lead, and Maya Stark (Sweden), who was one stroke behind with 11 under par and 133 strokes, was in second place alone.
Wongtawirap, who hit 7 under par 65 in the second round, climbed 8 places with a fairway landing rate of 85.7% (12/14), green hit rate of 77.8% (14/18), 27 putts, and 1.64 putts when hitting the green.
Stark, who hit 5 under par 67, recorded a fairway landing rate of 78.6% (11/14), a green hit rate of 77.8% (14/18), 27 putts, and 1.64 putts when hitting the green, moving up 4 steps. Both the 1st and 2nd place players showed stable green play with no 3 putts for two days.
Shin Ji-eun (31) scored a total of 10 under par 134 to form a tie for third place with Nellie Korda (USA), Celine Boutier (France), Emily Christine Pedersen (Denmark), and Jarabi Bunchant (Thailand).
Shin Ji-eun reduced 4 strokes with 5 birdies and 1 bogey, raising her ranking from a tie for 6th the previous day. On this day, the fairway landing rate was 71.4% (10/14) and the green hit rate was 83.3% (15/18). However, the number of putts increased from 26 to 30, and the number of putts when hitting the green increased from 1.57 to 1.73.
Ponanong Patlum (Thailand), who shot 7 under par 65 in the second round, jumped 30 steps to tie for 8th place, Jody Ewart Shadowf, Georgia Hall (England), Sasso Yuka (Japan), and Leona Maguire (Ireland). ), tied with Anna Nordqvist (Sweden).
World No. 1 Lydia Ko (New Zealand) tied for 15th with a total of 8 under par 136 strokes. Daniel Kang (USA), who reduced 6 strokes a day, is also in the same rank as Ataya Titikkun (Thailand), Charlie Hull (England), and Lilia Bu (USA).
Among Korean players, Kim Se-young (30) and Kim Hyo-joo (28) tied for 20th with a 7 under par 137 strokes, following Shin Ji-eun. Hataoka Nasa (Japan) and Jennifer Cupcho (USA), who were joint leaders on the first day, slipped to 20th place. In particular, Kim Se-young did well by cutting 6 strokes until the 17th hole, but it was painful to write down a double bogey at the 18th hole (par 5).
Ko Jin-young (28), who returned from injury, reduced two strokes in the second round, but was pushed from a tie for 17th to a tie for 27th. Anna Lin (27) and Ji Eun-hee (37) also stood shoulder to shoulder.
Kim A-lim (28), who stayed tied for 68th in the first round, jumped to 36th with a 6 under par 66. Brooke Henderson (Canada), who won the opening game of the LPGA tour last month, is also ranked 36th.
Choi Hye-jin (24) reduced one stroke and went down from a tie for 28th to a tie for 40th, and tied with Lee Jung-eun 6 (27) and 2021 champion Arya Jutanugarn (Thailand).
Yang Hee-young (34), who won the Honda LPGA Thailand three times, and Jeon In-ji (28), runner-up in this tournament in 2016, each shot 2 under par 70 strokes, but are tied for 50th place, two places behind the previous day.
Choi Woon-jeong (33) tied for 60th with an even par 72 two days in a row.
Nana Masen (Denmark), who defended her title, tied for 64th, and Lee Min-ji (Australia), who was ranked 3rd in the world ranking for the first time this year, only ranked 68th.
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