PATTAYA: Overnight leaders Nasa Hataoka of Japan and Australian Su Oh retained their one-shot cushion at the halfway stage of the 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club yesterday.
Each shot a seven-under-par 65 in the second round for a two-day total of 128 to match the tournament's 36-hole record of 16-under.
France's Celine Boutier and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen fired the low rounds of the day, posting 64s to stay joint third on 129 in the US$1.6 million tournament.
China's Lin Xiyu was fifth after hitting a 66 for 130.
American Jennifer Kupcho and Canadian Brooke Henderson each had 67 for a tie of sixth place on 132.
Australia's Minjee Lee shot a 64 to join Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Alison Lee of the US in a tie for eighth place on 133.
Jaravee Boonchant was the best Thai performer, shooting a 65 for 135. She was ahead of compatriots Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul on 137.
Hataoka, 23, put up a solid performance, not dropping a shot and making seven birdies.
"Just keep going. I want to make more birdies," said the ninth-ranked Japanese, who lives in Florida.
Oh, 25, managed to score a magnificent eagle on the last hole after a significant rain delay earlier.
"Actually my ball striking wasn't very good today. I was just kind of scrambling really well out there," she said.
"You know there is going to be a lot of birdies out there, so you don't feel like you're way ahead by making birdies.
"I holed quite a lot of putts and some good momentum putts, too, so that always helps."
Madsen said: "I played really good on the front nine, played decent on the back nine too. I didn't have so many birdie opportunities but I still made birdies. It was a steady round."
Looking back on her round, Lee said: "I hit it a little bit better, a little bit closer and gave myself a few more birdie putts today than yesterday.
"I think that was probably the biggest thing. Finishing well last week [she was joint runner-up in Singapore] gave me a little bit of confidence coming into this week.
"We can go pretty low around on this golf course, it's pretty soft. I think there are a lot of birdie opportunities out there -- the scoring is going to be pretty low this week."
France's Boutier, a player of Thai descent, chalked up an impressive 10 birdies, only marred by a bogey in both the back and front nine.
The 15th edition of the tournament is being held under the government's strict Covid-19 protocols. Only a limited number of spectators are allowed at the venue, and there are no tickets available for the general public.