Chanettee Wannasaen started this Friday as the leader of the Honda LPGA Thailand and has fallen out of the top 10 after carding a 71. Don’t think it’s a disastrous day for the Thai golfer; after all, she shot one under par. It’s simply a reflection of the level of birdies needed at the Old course of the Siam Country Club to stay in contention.
It’s a challenge, and you have to embrace it, commit to it. That’s what the Spaniard Julia López (-12) has done over the first two days. Following an excellent round of 67 on Thursday, she delivered an even better one this Friday. She signed for a bogey-free round of 65 with seven birdies and remains in the fight for everything, magnificently positioned in fifth place.
The South Korean Somi Lee (-17) has opened up a gap at the top with a stunning round of 61. There’s not much to argue or regret when something like that happens. It was a whirlwind of golf. She made nine birdies in the first eleven holes and finished the day with an eagle on the 15th, holing out from off the green. She’s the one to follow.
She has a four-shot lead over the big favourite for the win, the Thai Jeeno Thitikul (-14). The World Number One is not disappointing; quite the opposite. Today she delivered a fantastic 63 (nine under par) and has now gone 36 holes without errors. Despite the doubts about her game coming into this event, she is showing herself to be as imperial and consistent as ever. She is second on her own and will put significant pressure on Lee in the remaining two rounds.
You could say that from Thitikul onwards, we have a regular tournament, beyond the leader’s extraordinary performance. One shot behind in second place are Lydia Ko (-13) and Chizzy Iwai (-13), two other players very accustomed to the top spots on the leaderboard and to competing on Sundays with a chance to win. Just behind is Julia, tied with Allisen Corpuz and Hannah Green, two Major champions. This is how this tournament in Thailand unfolds, the event that kicks off the LPGA Tour circuit and boasts a very high level.
Julia has played even better golf than on the first day. She only missed two fairways and as many greens. If she maintains this level of solidity from tee to green, it’s clear we are going to enjoy not only this week but throughout the year with the aggressive and powerful golfer from Benahavís.
In contrast, Carlota Ciganda (+6) has not managed to turn things around in the second round. She delivered another 75, with two double bogeys preventing her from closing the gap on the leaderboard. She remains at the lower end. Consistency, the great virtue of the Navarrese golfer, is precisely what’s failing her. Today she hit only ten greens again, a figure that forces her to play catch-up on every hole. Nevertheless, she still has two days ahead, as the tournament has no cut, to gain some positions and, above all, improve her feelings for upcoming events.
