Mirim Lee was unable to come close to matching her torrid opening-round score but she still possesses the lead at Friday’s halfway point of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn, England.
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Jutanugarn took up the running almost at the tree-lined Woburn course four months after blowing a late lead in the first major championship of the year.
“I think I know how to play under pressure”, the 20-year-old Thai player said. “I learnt at the ANA how to play under pressure and just focus on what I can control”.
Ariya Jutanugarn was second after a bogey-free 65. “I got a lot of experience from this week”.
However, she bounced back by winning three times in four weeks on the LPGA Tour in May and has now given herself a great chance to claim Open glory.
She will head into Sunday having surpassed long-time leader Mirim Lee, who is 14 under after a third-round 69. “I had a couple of three-putts too, but I think with some practice I can overcome my mistakes from today”. It is a joy to watch her hit her two-iron off the tee with abandon but it highlights the controversy about how the course was set up.
Matthew, ranked 67th in the world, started the third round with three birdies in the first four holes. She chipped in from 90 feet for birdie on No. 8 and made a 30-footer on 10 on the Marquess Course, the hilly, forest layout that is a big change from the usual seaside links. “Not flawless, just okay”, Lee told the media after her round.
Martin won the 2014 tournament at Royal Birkdale. She played alongside Jutanugarn.
Su Oh was the last of the Australians to make the cut, a 4-over 76 seeing her fall to the tail of the field. “I didn’t hole as many putts later in the round and I’ll have to hole everything tomorrow to keep up with her”.
There were two further birdies on the par-three 6th and the par-three 8th, bringing her up to 3-over after 28 holes at one stage.
“The heart was willing but the body gave up on her”, Jonathan Young told Reuters after the blonde Englishwoman, who is seven months pregnant, exhausted over the closing holes and missed the cut on 149, five over par.
“I was pleased to compete here, I just wish I had a bit more energy for the last six holes”.
One of the longest hitters in the game, Jutanugarn is not carrying a driver this week which she says has been a help.
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Stacy Lewis was at nine under after a 70. You do feel it maybe a little bit.
