Charley Hull and Lottie Woad both sit on two under par after the second round of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
In challenging windy conditions on the Lancashire coast, both players recorded rounds of level par 71 after Hull, seeking a maiden major title, holed a bunker shot on the 17th for a birdie.
It was an up-and-down day for many players as they battled the elements. Hull missed a long putt to bogey the third, but got herself back to par on the sixth after her first excellent bunker shot of the day left her with a short putt for birdie.
Another birdie followed with a long putt on the eighth but bogeys followed on the 10th and 15th. The 30-year-old from Kettering looked in trouble again when she found a bunker on the 17th but found the hole to end the day level.
Woad had been looking good when she made the turn at two under, recovering from a bogey on the second with some strong driving setting up birdies on the third, sixth and ninth holes.
But she missed birdie chances on the 11th and 12th and lost momentum, dropping a shot on the 14th and then ending with a bogey when she found another bunker on the 18th and then, after chipping out, two-putting to drop another shot.
“It was a pretty good day,” Woad said on Sky Sports. “Definitely tougher scoring today it seems. Just a few more sneaky pins and the wind was a little bit stronger. I played pretty good tee to green, I just need to try and make a few more birdies.
“I had the same strategy as yesterday with most of my clubs off the tee. I’ve been opting for driver so far, just to try and get it as far down there as possible. Went in a couple more bunkers than I did yesterday, but overall hit it pretty good off the tee.”
Both Woad and Hull sit five shots behind Ryu Hae Ran, who was two over after her first five holes then turned it on, with two birdies in the last four holes seeing her finish on 69.
The Korean, 25, is looking for a third straight major title having won the Women’s PGA and the Evian Championship. Nelly Korda, who won the first two majors of the year, surged into the mix with a 68 that contained six birdies, and sits back from the leader.
PA
