Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, ranked second in the world, has established a commanding three-stroke advantage after Friday’s second round as she seeks to defend her title at the Mizuho Americas Open in West Caldwell, New Jersey.
The 23-year-old champion from last year’s tournament at Liberty National Golf Club fired a 3-under-par 69 on Friday, bringing her total to 8-under 136 at the relocated Mountain Ridge Country Club. Jennifer Kupcho sits in second place at 5-under after matching Thitikul’s 69, while Brooke Matthews holds third place alone at 4-under following a 72.
Thitikul’s second round featured plenty of action after beginning play on the back nine. From holes 17 through 4, she recorded four birdies alongside two bogeys, then closed out her round with strong birdies on the par-5 sixth and eighth holes to reach 8-under.
“I didn’t (play) well when the wind really picking up in the beginning,” Thitikul explained. “I mean, luckily we don’t have much wind on the back nine after the rain came and then the wind just like shut down. Then we just lucky. If we got the breeze the front nine, I don’t think my number is going to be that low for sure.”
The defending champion, who captured her eighth LPGA victory in February on home soil in Thailand, said her coach advised maintaining her normal approach.
“Just prepare things the same routine,” she noted. “I mean, just let golf be golf and let me be me. … So I think it’s just maybe stick to that process that just another day at the office and then whatever it’s turn out to be that turn out to be, and then you figure it out.”
Kupcho, who has not recorded a top-10 result this season, positioned herself well with Friday’s performance. She came close to matching Thitikul’s pace after recording four birdies on her opening nine holes and adding another at the 13th to reach 7-under, but dropped shots at holes 14 and 17 during her closing stretch.
“Like 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, all of those hole pin placements were on the sides of a hill,” Kupcho observed after completing her morning round. “For the wind and the speed we’re playing the greens, I don’t know that they’re going to be playable this afternoon, to be quite honest. It’s a really hard golf course.”
The day’s lowest score was 4-under 68, achieved by just two competitors: France’s Celine Boutier, who advanced to fourth place alone at 3-under, and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who joined a seven-player group tied for fifth at 2-under.
Former major winner Boutier echoed the widespread view that the course presented significant challenges, with wind conditions adding complexity.
“I feel like because I was first off this morning, I was able to take advantage of the first few holes that were less windy and then it started picking up in the middle of my front nine,” Boutier said.
“Yeah, I’m definitely glad to be done right now because it’s picked up even more. And I feel like it’s a course where you have to be really strong from the tee to green, so I think you have to be a very complete game to be able to score well.”
First-round leader Andrea Lee, who opened with a 66, struggled significantly in round two with a 79 that dropped her to 1-over for the tournament.
Several prominent players face elimination with the cut line set at 3-over par, including South Korea’s Sei Young Kim (5-over), Lexi Thompson (5-over), Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson (5-over), Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (5-over after an 80), Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (6-over following an 80), England’s Lottie Woad (13-over) and Michelle Wie West (18-over).
Wie West posted rounds of 82-80 in her first LPGA competition in three years as she prepares for next month’s U.S. Women’s Open.
