A mid-round flurry of birdies has kept Lydia Ko’s title defence hopes alive at the halfway mark of the Canadian Women’s Open.
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The three-time victor of the tournament – twice as an amateur and past year as a professional – mixed five birdies and two bogeys in her second-round 69, heading into moving day on eight-under and in a share of fourth.
Jutanugarn, of Thailand, had seven birdies over her final round to finish the tournament at 23 under and a four-shot victory.
“Today was a really good test because I came out and wasn’t as nervous as yesterday”, Sharp continued. “I feel confident because I can hit my irons in the fairway”, she said, noting that the narrow layout at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club outside Calgary limited her use of the driver. “Hopefully I’ll get a little bit deeper under par tomorrow and see what happens”. “I was so good at rolling the ball on those lines, and I made really good up-and-downs today”.
The Olympians had reason to feel good about their respective golf games heading to Ontario. This time past year she was struggling to find form and missed 10 cuts in a row but she says a change of attitude has helped her start to win tournaments.
Jutanugarn was forced to withdraw from the women’s event at the Olympics after leading early and then injuring her knee. “And honestly, I’ve said it so many times, but the fans are seriously wonderful”.
South Korea’s Sei Young Kim settled for second with a four-day total of 19-under 269, while In Gee Chun was third.
Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow – who lit up the first round with a 66 – was also three back after a second round 69.
“I’ve been in the hunt the last couple months, playing really well, and it’s like, ‘OK, now it’s not a shock this is where I am right now, ‘ ” said Sharp, who represented Canada in Rio.
“I think my tee shots were pretty good all week and my irons are getting a lot better in the last week or so”.
Those blemishes, along with a birdie at the 17th by Chun In-gee, left world number two Ariya with a tenuous lead over her South Korean rival.
Three-time champion Ko was tied for 10th at 10 under, and Canadian star Brooke Henderson was nine strokes back at 8 under. The only thing I want to be is I really want to be happy on the course.
Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee followed up the 69 she shot in Round 1 with a 70 to put her in a tie for 20th place at 5 under, one shot ahead of Henderson, who carded a respectable round of 4-under 68.
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Karrie Webb was the best of the Australians, storming into a share of fifth place with a flawless final round eight under 64, which included four birdies in her last four holes.
