Atthaya and Kim Maintain Major Challenges

St Andrews, Scotland: Former Queen Sirikit Cup individual champions Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul and Kim Hyo-joo are primed to mount weekend challenges at the AIG Women’s Open.

With a 36-hole total of one-under 143 over the Old Course at St Andrews, Thailand’s Atthaya is in a share of 18th place, seven shots off the pace being set by world number one Nelly Korda. One stroke further back in equal 21st is Korean Kim.

Playing together in the second round of the 2024 season’s final Major championship, Atthaya followed up an opening even-par 72 with a 71 while Kim added a 74 to her first-day 70.

Given the testing conditions at the Home of Golf, both players will feel they still have a chance of climbing into contention.

While Kim claimed Queen Sirikit Cup individual honours in 2012, Atthaya topped the standings in 2018, the same year she won the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP).

As Atthaya continues her quest for a maiden Major title, the reigning WAAP champion Wu Chun-wei was left to rue her failure to convert birdie opportunities as she bowed out at the half-way stage.

For the second day in succession, the Chinese-Taipei 19-year-old played steadily. However, as had been the case in her first-day 75, Wu’s second-round 78 did not contain a single birdie.

Wu was the only one of the five amateurs that started the tournament who did not manage to progress.

Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist, recent winner of the European Ladies Amateur Championship, was the pick of the bunch, firing a bogey-free 67 to move into a share of fifth spot on three-under 141.

“It's one of the most special days in my golf life thus far for sure,” said the leading amateur. “I don't think I've soaked it all in yet.”

England’s Lottie Woad, number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, also impressed once again, climbing to two-under with a 70.

Spaniard Julia Lopez Ramirez and Argentina’s Ela Anacona ended round two on two-over and four-over respectively.

Ten Asia-Pacific representatives are among the 18 players in red figures heading into Saturday’s third round, led by China’s Yin Ruoning, who has sole possession of fourth place on four-under 140.

She is followed by Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Chinese Taipei’s Chien Pei-yun and Japan’s Mao Saigo (all 141), Thai Patty Tavatanakit and Koreans Shin Ji-yai, Jenny Shin and Im Jin-hee (all 142) and Atthaya and Korean Lee Mi-hyang (both 143).