Chon buri: Thai star Patty Tavatanakit remained hot in steamy conditions, firing a second successive eight-under-par 64 to take a three-stroke lead over compatriot Atthaya Thitikul at the halfway stage of the Honda LPGA Thailand yesterday.
Patty, the joint-overnight leader with Atthaya, had a flawless round, carding six birdies and sinking a 10-foot eagle putt after a brilliant approach shot on the 18th hole in the second round to go 16-under 128 at the US$1.6 million tournament at Siam Country Club.
The event, which was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus outbreak, is being held behind closed doors under strict Covid-19 protocols.
Rookie Patty, who is chasing her second LPGA Tour title after winning the ANA Inspiration last month, was locked in a tight battle for much of the second day with Atthaya, who had an eagle of her own on the seventh hole and a bogey on the 17th to finish the round with a 67.
Patty, 21, and Atthaya, 18, remain in the hunt to become the first Thai to win the tournament which was launched in 2006.
Conditions were hot and Patty was seen using a small hand-held fan to cool down during her round.
But while she may have felt the heat, her game was red hot. She rarely strayed off the fairways and was able to keep her cool while putting.
"I'm happy with the result," said Patty, whose Thai name is Paphangkorn.
"I didn't play really well and I need to improve some things, but I'm happy with the result. I still feel confident going into the weekend."
Atthaya had four birdies, an eagle and a bogey in the second round.
"I didn't start the day well, but then I came back and kept the momentum going. On the back nine, I had several chances for birdies but I made some and missed some. I will try to putt better tomorrow," said the Ratchaburi native.
Germany's Caroline Masson was in third place after a steady round of 66 to match her effort on Thursday for a two-day total of 132.
Mexico's Gaby Lopez, New Zealand's Lydia Ko and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen were tied for fourth on 133.
Amy Yang, who has won three of her four LPGA Tour titles at the Thailand tournament including the 2019 edition, fired a 65 to sit in seventh place alongside fellow South Korean Park Hee-Young and two-time major winner Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand.
"My putting is getting better," Yang said. "I tried to keep a lot of things simple. I was hitting the ball really solid. I'm feeling really good about my game right now."
Ariya, who came close to winning the tournament in 2013, hit a 69 after a bogey on the final hole.
Australia's Hannah Green, the runner-up to South Korea's Kim Hyo-Joo at the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore last week, endured a disappointing outing with a 71 although she managed to extend her streak of under-par rounds to 18.
Green, the 2019 Women's PGA Championship winner, stayed joint 14th on 137.