Hangzhou, China: Arpichaya Yubol continued to strike all the right keys to claim the half-way lead in the women’s golf tournament at the 19th Asian Games.
The 21-year-old Thai, nicknamed Piano, followed up an opening 67 with a flawless 65 on day two at the Westlake International Golf Club.
With a 36-hole total of 12-under 132, the LPGA Tour member holds a one-stroke lead from China’s world number one Yin Ruoning and Indian Aditi Ashok.
China’s Lin Xiyu fired a second successive 67 for sole possession of fourth place with compatriot Liu Yu one stroke further back in fifth.
Japanese amateur Saki Baba, the overnight leader, dropped three shots on the final four holes to sign for a second-round even par 72 that leaves her in seventh place on 137, level with Korean Kim Min-sol. Baba and Kim are third and fourth respectively in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
In the team event in which the best two daily scores in each three-strong team are counted, China’s 21-under total of 267 is one in front of Thailand with India in the bronze medal position on 272.
They are followed by Japan (273), Korea (277), Chinese Taipei (278) and Singapore and Hong Kong, China (both 282).
Arpichaya turned professional in 2017 at the age of 15. In 2018, she won five titles in a row on the Thai LPGA Tour en route to taking top spot in the season-long Order of Merit.
Last year, Arpichaya won the Trust Golf Links Series at Musselburgh Golf Club on the Ladies European Tour (LET) Access Series by five shots and went on to earn her card for the 2023 LPGA Tour through qualifying school.
Leading Second-Round Scores, Individual
132 – Arpichaya Yubol (Thailand) 67-65
133 – Yin Ruoning (China) 67-66; Aditi Ashok (India) 67-66
134 – Lin Xiyu (China) 67-67
135 – Liu Yu (China) 67-68
136 – Patcharajutar Kongkraphan (Thailand) 69-67
137 – Saki Baba (Japan) 65-72; Kim Min-sol (Korea) 69-68
138 – Rianne Malixi (Philippines) 68-70
139 – Pranavi Urs (India) 71-68; Mamika Shinchi (Japan) 69-70; Mizuki Hashimoto (Japan) 70-69; Eila Galitsky (Thailand) 69-70; Koh Sock Hwee (Singapore) 69-70
Full Second-Round Scores, Teams
267 – China (134-133)
268 – Thailand (136-132)
272 – India (138-134)
273 – Japan (134-139)
277 – Korea (137-140)
278 – Chinese Taipei (139-139)
282 – Singapore (143-139); Hong Kong, China (142-140)
286 – Philippines (140-146)
304 – Vietnam (149-155)
309 – Kazakhstan (157-152)
319 – Pakistan (162-157)
353 – Nepal (180-173)
359 – Mongolia (183-176)