NEW YORK — Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul pounced late after gusty winds died down to fire a three-under par 69 and take a three-stroke lead in the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
The world No. 2 from Thailand built a 36-hole total of eight-under 136 at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey, where the chilly, blustery winds made putting the speedy, undulating greens particularly difficult for much of the day.
She was three shots clear of American Jennifer Kupcho, who also carded a 69 for 139.
“I didn’t do well when the wind (was) really picking up in the beginning,” Jeeno said. “Luckily we didn’t have much wind on the back nine. After the rain came the wind just, like, shut down.
“We were just lucky. If we got the breeze (that we had) on the front nine, I don’t think my number is going to be that low for sure.”
Jeeno, who won last year when the tournament was played at Liberty National, teed off on 10 and had two bogeys and a birdie in her first nine holes.
After a birdie and a bogey at the first and second she got rolling, seizing the solo lead with back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth and picking up two more strokes at the sixth and eighth.
Although she acknowledged the luck of her tee time, Jeeno was also pleased with her game.
Kupcho’s day was almost a mirror image of Jeeno’s as she teed off early and had five birdies in the first 13 holes before a pair of late bogeys dropped her to five-under.
“I think early this morning on the front nine there was definitely a lot less wind, hardly any at all really,” said Kupcho, whose four LPGA titles include a major at the 2022 Chevron Championship.
