Japanese retain control, Kyriacou’s ace the Australasian highlight
The leader by three Miyu Yamashita – image Mark Runnacles LET
Japanese golfers, led by their second-highest-ranked player, Miyu Yamashita, still control the AIG Women’s Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl, with Yamashita now holding a three-shot lead over fellow countrywoman Rio Takeda following a stunning second-round score of 65.
Yamashita’s round was the best of the day by three shots, opening with consecutive birdies at her opening two holes and playing bogey-free golf for the remainder of her early morning round in which she was, interestingly, paired with Takeda.
Highlighting the domination of the Japanese, Takeda is, herself, four shots clear of the group in 3rd place.
Yamashita has yet to win on the LPGA Tour, but she has been a regular placegetter, finished runner-up at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last year, and has been a prolific winner on the Japan LPGA Tour.
The leading Australasian in what has been a somewhat disappointing week thus far for the twelve who began the event is Sydney’s Stephanie Kyriacou in a share of 28th place at even par and eleven shots from the lead.
Kyriacou’s cause was aided by a hole-in-one at her 8th hole and an eagle at the last, but in between, there was a mixture of three birdies and five bogeys in her round of 2 under 70.
“I don’t know,” said Kyriacou when asked to describe the shots that slam dunked into the hole. “I’m not tall enough to see over the wall. Yeah, a pretty good shot.
“I didn’t see it go in, which sucked, but the crowd went nuts, and I heard the flag. Didn’t damage the hole, which was surprising, so it was quite clean. But yeah, my first official hole-in-one with no asterisk. Pretty excited.
“I didn’t want to celebrate if it didn’t go in the hole. I thought maybe it hit the flag and just went somewhere, so the reaction is probably pretty cool for a hole-in-one. I just gave a running high five when we got to the green.”
Lydi Ko, Minjee Lee and Grace Kim all only just survived the 2 over par cut and begin tomorrow’s third round in a share of 53rd place.
Stephanie Kyriacou’s hole in one
