Jenny Shin took a five-shot lead at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open on Friday, while Lottie Woad, Charley Hull and Nelly Korda again struggled in the windy conditions at Dundonald Links.
Lauren Coughlin, who had joined Shin as the overnight co-leader at six under par, also struggled, going two over par on her front nine holes before returning to the clubhouse at level par and moving to four under through 36 holes.
Shin capitalised on the momentum from her sensational opening
Despite a bumpy start, posting a bogey on the first, Shin capitalised on the momentum from her sensational opening-round 66 to shoot a five-under-par 67 and take a commanding five-shot lead over Esther Henseleit in second at 11 under par.
Shin said she had never held a five shot lead in her career before
“I made birdies when I could and tried really hard not to make any three-putts,” Shin said, speaking about almost matching her first-round score of 66.
“I have never had a five-shot lead before,” she added. “I’m going to try and stay patient over the next two days. It is links golf.”
Henseleit, who started on the back nine, pushed herself up to solo second on the leaderboard after making birdies on holes 16 and 17 and holing out for an eagle on the par-five third, moving to six under par through 36 holes.
The cut line was set at six over par, and after Hull endured an indifferent opening round, shooting a 78, she came into her second round tiptoeing along the cut line.
Nelly Korda (left) and Charley Hull (right) both struggled during their third rounds
The English golfer kept her composure, making four birdies and three bogeys to post a one-under-par 71 and secure her place at the weekend, moving to five over par through 36 holes.
Her close friend and compatriot, Georgia Hall, was unable to recover from an opening round score of 10 over par and missed the cut after she dropped to 14 over after carding six bogeys and two birdies on day two.
Woad improves but struggles with putting.
Woad enjoyed a much-improved second day at Dundonald Links after moving to two over par for her first round, having overcome a bumpy start.
The 22-year-old made a double bogey on the 12th hole but bounced back with consecutive birdies on 14 and 15. She then added a bogey on the 16th before making another birdie on hole 17.
“It was pretty windy at the start,” Woad, the defending champion, said. “I made an early double. So dropped two there, obviously. Hit some really nice iron shots for the rest of the day, hitting fairways and greens.
Woad made the turn at two over, and a further two birdies on holes three and five brought her back to level par.
Lottie Woad struggled with her putter during her third round
“I didn’t really make any putts to be honest with you,” she added. “I could have shot a lot better, but I was much happier with how I hit it today compared to yesterday.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who began the day at level par, fell to four over at the end of her second round. Korda, who started on the back nine, had moved to two under through six holes before making a bogey on 16 and then a double bogey on 17.
The four-time major champion made a birdie on the fifth, but then made four consecutive bogeys in her final four holes to shoot a second-round 76 and move to four over par.
Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist followed Korda in dropping down the leaderboard after she opened her tournament with a first-round score of two under par. On Friday, Nordqvist shot a seven-over-par 79, which dropped her to five over through 36 holes.
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