THE BGB LOWDOWN:
- Nasa Hataoka fired a 67 to vault to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Friday.
- The three-time Tour title winner from Japan birdied two of her closing three holes to move onto 11-under par, one shot clear of overnight leader Mi Hyang Lee of South Korea and England’s Mel Reid.
- Early starter Lee consolidated her position with a two-under par 69, while Reid moved through the field with a flawless 64.
- Celine Boutier of France and American Amy Olson will start Saturday in a tie for fourth spot on nine-under.
- Winner of the Cambia Portland Classic, Georgia Hall of England makes up a group of four players a shot further back on eight-under.
FUN FACT:
- Hataoka’ s 36-hole score of 131 is the second lowest of her career, bettered only by a 129 at the 2018 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G (which she won).
THAI WATCH:
- Not the best of days for the Thai contingent. Moriya Jutanugarn led the way, signing for a one-under par 70 to move into a share of 17th on five-under par.
- She bounced back from a brace of early bogeys at four and five, to pick up three straight birdies to make the turn one-under.
- Pornanong Phatlum followed up an opening 67 with a 73 to drop back into a share of 45th on two-under par.
- Pajaree Anannarukarn carded 72 to sneak into the weekend action on the cut-line of even-par in a share of 66th position.
- Spare a thought for Patty Tavatanakit who was joint-sixth overnight, but missed the cut thanks to a disastrous 77, a round that included six straight bogeys on the back nine.
- Ariya Jutanugarn (78) and Witchanee Meechai (74) joined Patty on a early plane home.
QUOTES OF THE DAY:
I wasn’t striking the ball as well as yesterday, but I was able to convert birdie chances where I wanted to and that was good. Today wasn’t about making long putts; it was more converting the small chances I had.
Nasa Hataoka
“Actually was a little chilly this morning. It was less wind as yesterday, so it was easier to get the second shot to hit the green on par-5s. It was really chilly in the morning, so my distance was a little shorter than normal. But it was all good.”
Mi Hyang Lee
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