Ariya takes aim at title

 

Despite missing a four foot eagle putt at the last hole, Ariya’s bogeyfree 66 propelled her to the highest clubhouse position ever reached by a Thai at this tournament.

“I didn’t have high hopes – except to start better than in the first round. I started with a bogey on Thursday, but after I saved par on that hole I was feeling good about my game, especially on my approach shots,” said the 17yearold, who had the chance to end yesterday on an even higher note with her eagle putt.

“The 18th is very difficult and I just hoped to make a birdie. But after I hit a good approach shot for a chance to make an eagle, I started thinking too much and I overhit [the putt] a little bit. It would have been great if I had finished with an eagle,” said the teen prodigy, who admits she is now thinking a home title is within her reach. Ariya finished eighth here in 2010, the best Thai performance so far in the tournament.

“Everybody in this tournament hopes to win, but I don’t want to put myself under pressure. If it is meant to be to me, it is meant to be. Right now I just have to focus on my putting before the weekend rounds,” said Ariya, who only entered the event through a sponsor’s invitation.

Overnight leader Lewis hit a sluggish 69 to cling on to pole position with a 12under 132 total. It was an uneven round, after she started on Thursday by matching the course record of 63.

“It’s always hard to follow up a really good day. I thought if I could shoot 4 or 5under that would still be a really solid day. I almost got there but it was kind of up and down. I definitely left a few out there. I didn’t hit it as good today but I made some putts on the back nine and still have a threeshot lead so I can’t complain,” said the world No 3, who will today play alongside Ariya for only the second time, after their meeting in the Kraft Nabisco Championship last year.

“I played with Pornanong [Phatlum] the first day and she got a lot of support. But I think tomorrow is going to be even crazier, being in the last group, and she’s kind of the rising star from here and I think she’s going to be a great player. She’s played a lot of pro events so she knows what it’s like. You have to watch out for her just like anybody else,” added the 28yearold American.

A trio of Beatriz Recari of Spain, Ryu Soyeon of South Korea and Sweden’s Catriona Matthew shared the third place on 136.

South Korean Park Seri and American Lizette Salas were tied in sixth on 137. Amateur schoolgirl Lydia Ko of New Zealand hit a 71 for a total 140 and was tied in ninth along with American Jessica Korda, former champion Ai Miyazato of Japan and Australian Karrie Webb.

Twotime defending champion Yani Tseng recovered from a disappointing first round of 75 to score an errorfree 68 for a 143 total.

Pornanong Phatlum carded even par to reach the midway stage at 145, which placed her at tied in 39th. 

While Ariya is on cloud nine, her elder sister Moriya Jutanugarn has yet to find the form that landed her in fourth place at last week’s Women’s Australian Open. Moriya sank a 75, stained by a double bogey on the seventh hole, for a total 146 to take joint 45th .

Amateur compatriot Suppamas Sangchan was at 48th after a 147, a shot better than Numa Gulyanamitta who was at joint 53rd.