South Korean Somi Lee carded a 61 — her career-low round — to move to 17-under par and take a three-stroke lead after 36 holes at the Honda LPGA Thailand on Friday.
Trailing her is World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, who, with her home-country crowd on her side, fired a 63 at the Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya, Thailand.
The players found the course extremely friendly on Friday, with scores in the 60s the norm. Lee and Thitikul took full advantage.
Neither player recorded a bogey. Lee had nine birdies and an eagle on her way to tying the course record. Thitikul mixed seven birdies and an eagle to help her reach 14-under.
Thitikul had her big day on her 23rd birthday, with the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to her on her birdie holes. She said she will remember the day for both the celebration and her round.
“For the past two days, I have been in a good position where I just want my ball to be,” she said. “So if we can put the ball where it’s kind of safe, not too risky, should be not a big problem with this golf course.”
Lee, obviously, also was pleased by her round.
“My shots went well overall, but even the shots that didn’t go well I was able to save with my putter, so I think that’s what overall went well today,” she said.
Lee is looking for her second career LPGA title. She won the Dow Championship in June 2025.
“I had the best score of my life today so I’m emotional,” she said. “But since the competition is not over and there is still two more days left, I just want to celebrate this a little bit.”
The players had to fight the heat on the course, which was a challenge, according to Lydia Ko, who moved into a share of third with Japan’s Chizzy Iwai after a bogey-free 64. But the heat didn’t deter Ko, and she appreciated the state of her game.
“My ball striking is something that we’ve been trying to dial down, and especially my iron play,” the New Zealander said. “I think I had like my worst iron greens in regulation stats these past couple years, so that was something that was really high on my attention list.
“It’s been a while since I hit 16 greens, so definitely nice to come off with a round like that. Yeah, especially with Jeeno playing well today, I felt like the whole group was really able to get in a good momentum and make a lot of birdies out there.”
Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka were the first-round leaders but couldn’t keep up with the low rounds. Wannasaen shot a 71 to come in at 8-under and in a tie for 13th. Hataoka’s 72 put her at 7-under and T22.
Defending champion Angel Yin followed her opening round of 69 with a 75 and is at even par for the tournament.
